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King Lear Quotes Analysis

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“We are not the first / Who with best meaning have incurred the worst.” (5.3.3) This quote comes from Cordelia, the third and most honest of King Lear’s daughters, near the end of the story King Lear by Shakespeare, shortly before she is killed. From this, Shakespeare is trying to say that even those who speak the truth are not strangers to suffering and consequence. Shakespeare uses honesty and truth within the characters, including Cordelia, Edgar, Kent and others to push his messages throughout the entirety of this story. The talented author uses honesty and truth in his stories to push his message that humanity would accept a comforting lie rather than a dreadful and harmful truth.
To begin, as stated before, Cordelia is one of the most …show more content…

Despite this terrible turn of the tide, Cordelia still show how powerful the truth can be. In this moment, Shakespeare uses …show more content…

Soon after Cordelia is disowned by King Lear, Kent, being the loyal servant that he is, advises the king to take back and amend his rather rash decision.
Kent : “Reserve thy state,
And in thy best consideration check
This hideous rashness. Answer my life my judgment,
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least,
Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sounds
Reverb no hollowness.” (1.1.149-153)
In response, the king is quick to banish Kent from his kingdom only for the servant to return in disguise. As yet another rash decision, some believe that these actions ultimately led to the King’s demise. In moments like these, when deep observation is neccessary, the audience can see Shakespeare’s message, showing how ignorance is bliss, but sometimes, the truth is the very thing that people need to hear. Secondly, Kent also uses dishonesty to find his way back into the service of the king, which may have been for the better.
“Lear: What art thou?
Kent: A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the King.
Lear: If thou be’st as poor for a subject as he is for a king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou?
Kent: Service.
Lear: Who wouldst thou serve?
Kent:

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