In the play King Lear, Lear is the king of Britain and rules with great pride. The beginning of the play starts with King Lear deciding to step down from the throne and divide his kingdom among his daughters. He challenges each of his daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia, to show their love for him in words and whoever is the most appealing will receive the larger portion of the estate. Goneril and Regan use flattery to win over their father. However, Cordelia says "Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more nor less."(Lines 91-93,1.1) She explains that when she marries her husband, he will only have half her love because the other half will be love for her father. This is the opposite of her two sisters who marry to gain more money and power. King Lear is astonished how her words are not appealing. He disowns Cordelia and banishes her from Britain. The land and money are equally divided between Goneril and Regan. This is only the beginning of Lear's breakdown by his daughters.
             When King Lear steps down from the throne he realizes that he is growing old. He is slowly admitting his decline but refuses to give up total power. After his decision, he chooses to live with Goneril and her husband who is the Duke of Albany. He takes all of his one hundred knights to serve him. This is how he maintains power. Goneril complains how the knights are destroying her home. She says "Men so disordered, so deboshed, and bold." (Line 236, 1.4) She will only allow him to have fifty knights. Lear is disgusted with her unwillingness to keep him happy. He leaves in a mad dash to live with Regan whom he claims is his only loving daughter. Lear is still blind to the fact that his two oldest daughters are alike in personality, which he discovers later on when Regan shuts him out also.
             Kent, one of the king's followers, is the first to inform Lear that he h...