The Death of Cordelia in William Shakespeare's King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy unlike any other written by William Shakespeare. It focuses
on the psychological downfall of a powerful King. It proves that as long as a nation has a
king on the throne all is well, but as soon as a king steps off the throne nothing but chaos
transpires. The downfall of the king results in the downfall of the kingdom. More
importantly, it focuses on the relationship between parent and child. This is proven in
two plots with the most important being the relationship between Cordelia and King Lear.
Lear goes through a period of great mental instability in which he gives up his throne,
gives up his daughter Cordelia, and also gives up his sanity. When this happens all hell
breaks loose among the characters, and the evil persona Edmund takes control of the plot.
In most cases love is thought to shine through all evil, however it is not the case in King
Lear. Cordelia must die to illustrate that good does not always conquer evil, and this is
shown no matter how painful it may be for the audience. This is stated in an essay by
Northrop Frye called King Lear who says that this reflects "the principle that the evil men
do lives after them" (148) no matter what good may try to do to defeat it.
Cordelia is the epitome of a true person. Unlike her sisters, she is sweet, honest,
loving, and good. From the start Cordelia speaks the truth even though it hurts her
father's feelings, and sends him spinning into an eventual rejection of her. Her sisters
Goneril and Regan are hypocritic wenches who profess their undying love for Lear
without an ounce of truth to back it up. Cordelia tries to show this to her father, but he is
completely blind to it, and cannot see that Cordelia loves him the best of all three of his
daughters. When Lear asks Cordelia how much she loves him she simply replies "I love
your Maj...