King, it is no where close to the love she professes to him. She only wants to gain her fathers power and best land. Goneril is put onto a position where she has to use a mask. Not using her figurative mask of love would be devastating to her scheming plans. She would end up losing the entire dowry of land before she even acquired it.
             Regan, the middle sister is not to be outdone by her older sister, Goneril. Regan uses an even greater mask of love and tells her father that her love is even greater than that of her sisters. She declares her love to King Lear saying, "I find she [Goneril] names my very deed of love. Only she comes to short, that I profess Myself an enemy to all other joys . . ." (1.1.71-3). Like Goneril, Regan has to use a love mask to hide her true feelings for her father because she wants to win King Lear's best land for her dowry.
             The two evil sisters' masks of love work very favorably. Lear is overjoyed after hearing their confessions of love for him. When King Lear asks his youngest daughter, Cordelia, to describe her love for him, she refuses. She believes her father's test of love is ridiculous and she does not want to take part in it. She tells her father, "I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. I love your Majesty According to my bond, no more no less" (1.1.91-3). Lear becomes enraged with her and disowns her. Goneril and Regan are very happy at the outcome of these events, for now they will be the sole heirs of the King's land and occupy all of his power. Because of the sisters' use of masks, the one daughter who truly loves the King is now disinherited and disowned. By gaining all of the King's land and power, Goneril and Regan's actions give lead to the tragedy of the play: King Lear losing his rightful place in his kingdom and the wrongful dishonor of Cordelia.
             King Lear's anger at Cordelia causes her also be fitted with a mask. Cordelia is the only honest and loving daughter ...