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king lear
The opening act of King Lear effectively demonstrates the initial situation and downward movement of Aristotle's structure of tragedy when King Lear the tragic hero announces: "Know that we have divided in three our kingdom, and ‘tis our fast intent to shake all cares and business from our age" (I i 39-41) is where the initial situation in the play begins and is the main flaw leading to the Reversal, the first stage of tragedy. King Lear decides to divide his kingdom into three, a piece for each of his three daughters. He asks his daughters who of them love him the most, this will determine the size of the fortune each will get. Knowing what makes their father happy, Goneril and Regan the king's eldest daughters, give flattering speeches which are full of deception only to get as much as possible of their father's kingdom. The youngest daughter, Cordelia, does not know how to lie and flatter her father with dishonesty and falsehood like her sisters did. Therefore she says "Nothing, my lord" (I i 89) which brings her father into frustration. He says "Nothing will come out of nothing. Speak again" (I i 92), he means that saying nothing will not bring you fortune. King Lear's demand that his daughters express the amount of love they have for him shows us his insecurity and fear of a man who needs to be reassured of his own importance. Both his ignorance and pride blind him from seeing that Cordelia is the only daughter who truly loves him. The Earl of Kent disagrees with Lear and convinces him that his decision was a mistake, "Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least, nor are those empty-hearted whose low sounds reverb no hollowness" (I i 154-156) leading up to his daughters banishment, the ignorance and pride of King Lear has caused his own downfall and loss of fortune.
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