Shakespeare presents inversion in King Lear through his representation of loyalty, justice, and familial roles in multiple characters. Loyalty is inverted in this play in the form of multiple characters, Edmund, Goneril, and Regan. Edmund is not a loyal man, though he pretends to be in order to gain his father’s trust and love. Edmund betrays his father, Gloucester, by making him think that Edmund’s brother Edgar is plotting to kill him. (I.ii) He does this because Edgar is the legitimate son and heir and Edmund wants his family’s inheritance to himself. Edmund represents inversion of loyalty in the way he pretends to be a doting son, but is actually a family traitor. Goneril and Regan are two of King Lear’s daughters, the more selfish ones, …show more content…
In the very beginning of Act I, Lear asks his daughters to profess their love for him, in exchange for sections of his kingdom. This is not how to determine your heirs, typically the eldest child becomes the kingdom’s ruler. Lear then falls for Goneril and Regan’s fake love, something he should be able to see through, since he is their father. Cordelia expresses real love and Lear banishes her for it, that is not how a father should treat his favorite daughter. Goneril, Regan, and Edmund represent inverted familial roles in the way they control their parents. Usually, parents are the ones with the power, but in this play, the children have the reigns. Edmund tricks his father into casting out his only heir in order to gain power. Goneril and Regan trick their father into giving them his kingdom, then drive him mad by refusing to let him stay with them. Cordelia also exhibits power over her father, she marries the king of France, and when Lear needs help in battle in Act IV, she shows up with an army. Parents are typically the ones to help children out of sticky situations, but not in this