Notes on Presentation Of Regan, Cornwall and Goneril.

Regan and Cornwalls absence departs from accepted rules of

hospitality and initially bewilderes King Lear since he sent advance
notice of his arrival. The way in which Regan and Cornwall are
presented to be dismissive is further emphasised by Lear’s denial, as
when he seeks an excuse for Cornwall's behavior: "may be he is not
well" and when Goneril appears, Lear first pleads with her for
sympathy, and then indulges in self-pity: "Art not asham'd to look
upon this beard?" Even more pleading and self-pity is evident in his
later address to both daughters: "You see here, you Gods, a poor old
man, / As full of grief as age; wretched in both!"

In many ways, Lear appears almost resigned, as he acknowledges that

Goneril is "my flesh, my blood, my daughter". However he also
concedes that she is of "my corrupted blood" and thus, he accepts
responsibility for her actions. His choices as her father have
determined her choices as his daughter. All of these emotional
responses cannot change the reality of his new life.

The demenour of the king are truly underminded when Lear orders
that Regan and Cornwall appear, he expects them to do so. However
Gloucester's response — "I have inform'd them so"— indicates a new
order. Regan agrees to speak to the king, but clearly on her terms.

The arrival of Goneril signifies the decisive moment for the disturbed
King, whose status and authority become severely diminished by his
manipulative daughters. He is rendered powerless when his daughters
mutually attempt to reduce Lear’s train of knights to zero, "What need
one" being Regan’s last question to Lear before he departs the castle.
Goneril’s and Regan’s autocracy and vindictive attitudes towards Lear
exasperates him and prompts him to correctly profess, "I shall go
mad", before leaving the castle to enter the storm and his madness.
Regan initially appears to be a more sympathetic and gentle daughter.
She greets Lear with politeness, but her deportment is deceptive.
Regan has no real reverence for her royal father. Goneril has already
revealed herself to be openly harsh and unyielding, but Regan is more
competent at deception, easily assuming the mantle of respect and
politeness that a gracious daughter is expected to display. The arrival
of Goneril signifies the decisive moment for the disturbed King, whose
status and authority become severely diminished by his manipulative
daughters. He is rendered powerless when his daughters mutually attempt
to reduce Lear’s train of knights to zero, "What need one" being Regan’s
last question to Lear before he departs the castle. Goneril’s and Regan’s
autocracy and vindictive attitudes towards Lear exasperates him and
prompts him to correctly profess, "I shall go mad", before leaving the
castle to enter the storm and his madness.

The coming storm signals the disarray in Lear's life. He is a sad

character, unable to slow the momentum of the events he has set in
motion. Lear sets out into the storm in an effort to regain some
purpose in his life before it slips away. Lear's bewilderment at his
circumstance, the loss of his daughter's respect, and the loss of his
kingship all serve to make Lear a sympathetic character. His attempts
to retain dignity, rather than dismiss his knights — which represent the
kingliness and power of his previous life — add to this sense of
sympathy. He leaves into the storm, and rather than wait for his
daughters to reject him one more time, he rejects them. In leaving,
Lear attempts to seize some small control over his life. The storm is
the perfect venue for Lear. Nature, which has established the natural
order for king and father, has also made man a creature dependent on
love for survival. The king's daughters, who are unnatural in their lack
of allegiance to their father and who have rejected the bonds of blood
or social order, have deprived Lear of the love and respect that he
feels he deserves and that he expects. In his moment of despair, Lear
turns to nature for escape.