King Lear's speech to his daughters signifies a pivotal moment in the play's plot. By denying him his men, the king's daughters have essentially stripped Lear of his old identity of king and pushed him into a new identity as a mad old man. It is not just that he "needs" his men; they are practically the culmination of his life's work and accomplishments as a king. The significance of the speech is that Lear is finally becoming aware of the character of his daughter and simultaneously the loss of his power. This moment moves the plot forward by highlighting the change in identities from doting daughters and an angry king to devilish queens and a mad old man. Also dramatically highlighted, is the switching of power from father to daughters. .
In the events leading up to Lear's speech, his daughter Goneril has told him that he must send away half his knights and men if he wants to stay at her palace. Unwilling to lose any of his followers, he sends Kent to notify his other daughter, Regan, that he is on his way to her palace with his men. Upon reaching, Kent is put into stocks by Regan and her husband. When Lear arrives at Regan's, he is upset and cannot believe that his servant has been locked up. Regan demonstrates lack of respect for her father by commanding Kent into stocks. At this point in the plot, Lear is becoming aware of the true character and betrayal of his daughters. Lear still tries to command his daughter Regan and her husband, Cornwall, to explain to him why his servant has been put in stocks, but he has forgotten that in giving up his kingdom to his daughters he has also relinquished all commanding power he had over them. When Goneril arrives at Regan's, both daughters further belittle and disrespect their father by calling him weak and old. Lear begins to realize he has lost all his power when even Regan will not allow him to keep his knights. His sanity is pushed to its breaking point as Lear experiences an intense mixture of grief and anger at his predicament.
