King Lear

            
             In Shakespeare's play, King Lear, Cordelia's refusal to play her part in the love auction set by her father generated the whole plot of the story. The king, who had little left to live, staged a ceremony in which each daughter had to affirm her love for him. King Lear's intension was to divide his kingdom among his three daughters depending on how much they care for him. When Cordelia's turn arrives to proclaim her love to the king, unlike her other sisters she simply declares "I love your Majesty according to my bond no more nor less" (1.1.95). When King Lear hears this, he hurries into a pride driven rage by disinheriting and exiling his favorite daughter. The question is whether Cordelia's words and actions are justified morally or is she just uncaring and hypocritical toward her father. In the following paragraph I am going to analyze her actions by using the Ethics of Care and Kant's judgment on moral goodness.
             The lack of flattery on Cordelia's part is misinterpreted by Lear and by others. The King interpreted it as a lack of respect when all his daughter wanted is to be honest. Cordelia's actions were motivated only by her father's good not by her own self-interest. She cared mostly for her father's welfare and protection than what she could get in return if she had exaggerated her love for her father. She new that her sisters intentions where not true, and she refused to follow there steps. By telling her father honestly how she feels towards him she reveals indirectly her sister's intentions. "Why have my sisters husbands, if they say they love you all" (1.1.101). These words reveal Cordelia's awareness of her sister's bad intentions. She rather tell the truth than lie for her own benefit. Like Gilligan explains in Douglas Birsch article (.157), "moral goodness is understood in terms of self-sacrifice" and Cordelia sure sacrificed a lot by telling the truth. .
             Another thing is that Cordelia was able to make the judgment of good and bad.