King Lear is a very old play script written by the ”Bard of Avon”, William Shakespeare. The play goes into the tragedy genre, which was very popular at the time the play was written, especially with Shakespeare. This is an essay about one of the most tense scenes in King Lear, the confrontation about who loves the ageing main character the most, Gonreil, Regan or Cordelia?

The first one to speak was Gonriel. She obviously was desperate to own the largest piece of land, and was prepared to lie continuously until she got it.She uses quotes like ”Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter”. This a quote that is exaggerated greatly, and is obviously not what she would say if the prize of the land wasn’t there. She uses techniques such as a triplet, which makes the reader think that she was preparing this, and made up all of this stuff specially for this occasion, presuming that she is a very false and manipulative person. The reader is automatically given the impression that Gonreil is not speaking truthfully, and also, if King Lear does choose Gonriel to have the largest piece of land, it gives the impression that the ageing man is walking straight into a trap.

The next person to speak was Regan, who gave a totally different approach to Gonreil. She decided to, instead of making herself look like she loves him, criticizing the other’s speeches. ”Only she comes too short” was a quote used by Regan against the other sister, trying to turn King Lear to her, instead of Gonriel. I think she is trying to respond in a way that King Lear would think of it as brilliant. The reader’s reaction is that she is very mean and would put down others for her own glory.

The last person to speak was Cordelia. She decided to use a totally different approach, and decided to tell the (seeming so) truth. She did this by saying ”Nothing my lord” in response to the question. I think that she tried to use the technique that you tell the truth and it comes across as loving, yet I think King Lear found it weird. The reaction from the reader was a decision on who doth loved King Lear the most…