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Cordelia - Coggle Diagram
Cordelia
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The final evaluation
Our assessment of Cordelia should probably conclude that although she is as stubborn as the rest of her family, she is a paragon in comparison with her sisters.
In two telling lines Lear says 'her voice was ever soft Gentle and low - an excellent thing in a woman'. It is impossible to imagine Lear's other two 'dog-hearted' daughters ever being described in this way
Cordelia's characterisation goes some way to counteract the vicious, masculine cruelty of Goneril and Regan, and the abhorrence of the female that is so prevalent in the play
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Who is Cordelia?
Cordelia is Lear's youngest daughter. Although she is his favourite, she refuses to take part in his love test and he banishes her
Having married the King of France, she returns to Britain with a French army to combat her evil sisters and restore Lear's fortunes
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A problematic heroine
Lear's favourite daughter is possibly more problematic for audiences today than she would have been for the Jacobean theatregoer. She can seem infuriatingly pious. Why does she refuse to take part in Lear's love test, when she knows how evil Goneril and Regan are? Can we blame her for the violence and cruelty of her sisters' reign? And what of Cordelia's public subversion of Lear's authority, humiliating him in front of the court?
Some critics interpret her refusal to speak flattering words to Lear and her acceptance of France as acts of defiance; she is in direct conflict with patriarchy on both occasions, refusing to submit to her father's will.
Her stubborn 'nothing' leads the way for Goneril and Regan's rebellion. If we follow these arguments through, it is possible to interpret Cordelia's death as a reward for her early disobedience. These however, are extreme views, which do not really fit in with the portrayal of Cordelia's character in Acts 4 and 5, or with he consistently high esteem in which Cordelia is held by the 'good' characters. Remember, France takes her for her virtues alone
Cordelia's virtues
It is necessary to look at Cordelia's motives in Act 1 scene 1. She is seeking to alert Lear to his poor judgement. Her refusal to participate in a glib public-speaking contest can be seen as a sign of her integrity. As the play progresses we learn to distrust all characters who have an easy way with words. Cordelia's 'nothing' looks increasingly honest and worthy
When she returns in Act 4 Cordelia is anything but subversive. In the Quarto version of the play we are prepared for her reappearance by Kent and the Gentleman, who stress her feminine beauty and modesty and the pain she feels when hearing about Lear's sufferings
We are presented with a perfect daughter who will act as redeemer. In Act 4 scene 7 she is solicitous and respectful towards her father, restored as Lear's 'best object'. It is probably this Cordelia we remember: the selfless daughter, full of pity and love
Key quote
Kent - 'The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,/That justly think'st and hast most rightly said!
Without this intervention we might interpret Cordelia's refusal to flatter Lear in the love-test as ungracious and confrontational. Kent reassures us that one of the most senior figures at court shares Cordelia's disgust at Lear's actions and shares also her belief that it is time for plain talking. Lear, in his self regard, thinks that rejecting Cordelia and banishing Kent is the next best thing to destroying them, but Kent foresees that someone with Cordelia's merits will always be able to find 'dear shelter' elsewhere
AO3 - Some critics have suggested that Kent and Cordelia's behaviour in Act 1 Scene 1 can be read as a warning to James 1 not to be taken in by flattering courtiers and advisers. Like his predecessor, Elizabeth 1, James was to gain a reputation for indulging his favourites