Nothingness

Nothing William Shakespeare plays on the word "nothing" and the idea of nothingness throughout the play "King Lear. The word "nothing" is an figurative motif used throughout the play. In Act 1, Lear stages his love test towards his three daughters, Goneril, Regen, and Cordelia. Goneril and Regen replies and flatters King Lear with what hewanted to hear, Lear grants them both two-thirds of his kingdom. One-third of the kingdom remaines, the finest part of his kingdom which Lear intends to give Cordelia. Lear asks her “What can you say to draw a third [of the kingdom] more opulent than your sisters?” (1.1.87-88) But when it was Cordelia’s turn to speak, she simply replies “nothing, my lord”. In disbelief Lear tells her "Nothing will come of nothing" ”(1.1.92) which meant that Cordelia saying nothing will result in Cordelia receiving nothing from her father. Cordelia’s choice to say neither more nor less than she did, neither more nor less than she could and still be true, echoes throughout Shakespeare’s masterpiece. The truths of world does not need to be complex, but simple. They are the truths of the heart which Cordelia articulates. However powerful kings who have everything in the world may not be able to make creative use of “nothing,” to strip themselves of everything, but they could learn to listen less for flattery and more for truth, ignoring the “everything” of illusion for the “nothing” of value, compassion, truth and honour.
("Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing." Oscar Wilde)

Betrayal Betrayal plays a significant role in both "King Lear" and "Othello". In the play "King Lear", betrayal is found mostly amongst family where Goneril and Regan betray their father to gain more power and wealth, whereas betrayal in "Othello" is also found when Iago betrays Othello, his commander to get what he wants; revenge. In both plays, the reason for betrayal is to help themselves get what they want whether it is power,