A Fool for a King in King LearIn Shakespeare's play King Lear, the main character, King Lear, is presented as a respected and powerful king. As the story progresses, the king loses his power due to his own stupidity and blindness. The tragedy of this play is shown primarily through the actions of Lear's daughters, which lead Lear to a fit of madness, and through the words of the Fool. At the beginning of the play, King Lear appears as a powerful and beloved ruler. He explains his intention to abdicate and divide his kingdom between his three daughters, giving the largest share to the daughter who convinces him that she loves him most (Boyce 343). Goneril is the first to lie, Sir, I love you more than words can express; / More expensive than view, space and freedom; Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; / No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor; as much as a child was loved or a father found; A love that makes breathing difficult and speech impossible. Beyond all kinds of things, I love you. (Ii56-63) Regan is the next to exaggerate her love, I am made/of the same metal as my sister and appreciates me for her worth. In my true heart / I find that it names my act of love, Only it is too short for me to declare myself / Myself an enemy of all the other joys That the most precious square of the senses possesses, / And I find that I am alone in congratulating In Your dear Highness' love. (Ii72-80) In the end, Cordelia only speaks the truth when she says: “Unhappy with what I am, I cannot lift / My heart in my mouth.” I like...... middle of paper ......king close and powerful to that of an ordinary man who, sometimes, seems to have no family. This brings him to the brink of despair and, at least, temporary insanity until he is rescued by his friend whom he had banished and his daughter whom he had disinherited. Not only is it a tragedy that Lear and Cordelia die at the end of the play, but also that so much pain and suffering was endured before some fool allowed Lear to see that he had tragically misjudged the most important people in his life. The people he rejected were the ones who truly loved him and tried to protect him; the people he treated so well were the ones he needed to protect from. This error of judgment cost him everything. Works Cited Boyce, Charles. Shakespeare from A to Z. New York: Roundtable Press, 1990. Shakespeare, William. King Lear. New York: Washington Square Press, 1957.