After being denied to keep his hundred knights in either of his daughters' homes, Lear is infuriated and begins to curse Regan for her gratefulness. He accuses Regan of being evil and compares her to a serpent as he hopes the heavens will avenge him. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize his error is greater than his daughter's because he defies the gods when he divides his kingdom. Although Regan is evil, Lear is to blame for being selfish and never thinking about others in his kingdom beyond himself.
As Lear begins to reproach Regan for being an ungrateful daughter he mentions that "she hath abated me of half my train " which could be suggesting half his knights which Regan doesn't allow him to keep (Shakespeare 159). On the other hand, "half my train"" could also be referring to the kingdom he divides and gives half to Reagan, but she hasn't "abated"" him of this power because he willingly gives it to her (159). Although Lear mentions that "she hath " taken away this power from him, it is not true because it is he who defies the gods when he divides the kingdom. Inclusively, it is Lear who commits the error of having "abated"" the kingdom from the ruler the gods have chosen when he gives up all his power. Unfortunately for his kingdom, while he is King he also neglects to help the impoverished and those who are in need throughout his kingdom. Although Lear is reproaching Regan for her injustices, he doesn't realize he carries a heavier load of errors because as the chosen King he was useless to his kingdom. .
As Lear continues in this speech to reproach Reagan, he also tells her that she "look'd black upon me " which suggests the depth of her evil as he compares her to the color "black,"" (160). Black is the opposite of white, so it is suggested to have the opposite connotations. For example, white is often associated with purity, but "black"" is associated with darkness and evil. Therefore, Lear is indirectly telling his daughter that she is evil.