King Lear's 'Nothing Will Come Of Nothing'
Nothing
From the beginning, the theme nothing has been prevalent. "Nothing will come of nothing," (1.1.95) Lear says to his beloved daughter in the first act of the play. The quote sets the story by meaning that Cordelia will not receive anything until she professes her love for her father. As Cordelia is an honest daughter of Lear, lying to her father like her two older sisters have was a challenged. She truly loves him the most; she cannot bring herself to praise him falsely. Instead, she says “I love your majesty according to my bond, no more nor less” (1.1.97-98). In this short dialogue between Lear and Cordelia, the word ‘nothing’ is said four times. What's notable is that each time it is said, it implies a different meaning. The purpose …show more content…
No, you unnatural hags!” (2.4.308-312)
Lear delivers these lines after he has been driven to the end of his rope by the cruelties of Goneril and Regan. He articulates how unnatural their acts are towards him. When his daughters ask to take away his knights and attendants, he feels as though his power has been taken away from him. The way Goneril and Regan treated their father drives him mad. Like the end of the soliloquy states, he is unable to bear the realization of his daughters’ terrible betrayal. Despite his attempt to assert his authority, Lear finds himself powerless; all he can do is vent his rage.
Self-knowledge and Appearance
This theme relates to the sight and blindness theme because it discusses the need for wisdom to tell the difference of misperceptions and the idea of appearances being deceitful. For instance, in the aspect of Lear’s love game, his two elder daughters lied in order to receive half of the kingdom. Also, Edmund lied to his father to frame his brother and titled him a traitor. Within the play, many deceitful acts have been shown, however, Lear seen to undergo a journey in the aspect of
From the beginning, the theme nothing has been prevalent. "Nothing will come of nothing," (1.1.95) Lear says to his beloved daughter in the first act of the play. The quote sets the story by meaning that Cordelia will not receive anything until she professes her love for her father. As Cordelia is an honest daughter of Lear, lying to her father like her two older sisters have was a challenged. She truly loves him the most; she cannot bring herself to praise him falsely. Instead, she says “I love your majesty according to my bond, no more nor less” (1.1.97-98). In this short dialogue between Lear and Cordelia, the word ‘nothing’ is said four times. What's notable is that each time it is said, it implies a different meaning. The purpose …show more content…
No, you unnatural hags!” (2.4.308-312)
Lear delivers these lines after he has been driven to the end of his rope by the cruelties of Goneril and Regan. He articulates how unnatural their acts are towards him. When his daughters ask to take away his knights and attendants, he feels as though his power has been taken away from him. The way Goneril and Regan treated their father drives him mad. Like the end of the soliloquy states, he is unable to bear the realization of his daughters’ terrible betrayal. Despite his attempt to assert his authority, Lear finds himself powerless; all he can do is vent his rage.
Self-knowledge and Appearance
This theme relates to the sight and blindness theme because it discusses the need for wisdom to tell the difference of misperceptions and the idea of appearances being deceitful. For instance, in the aspect of Lear’s love game, his two elder daughters lied in order to receive half of the kingdom. Also, Edmund lied to his father to frame his brother and titled him a traitor. Within the play, many deceitful acts have been shown, however, Lear seen to undergo a journey in the aspect of