Loyalty is one of the most prize possessions any human being can offer unto you along with trust. In the book “King Lear”, William Shakespeare introduces readers to the theme of the book which is loyalty. Loyalty is seen throughout the characters Cordelia, Kent, and the Fool, due to their actions and not their words. Although King Lear mistreated these characters they were the main characters in the book who demonstrate loyalty towards King Lear despite his cruel actions towards them. Throughout King Lear’s good and bad conditions these characters loyalty for King Lear never changed.
Later on in the paly Kind Lear realizes who had been loyal to him all along when he is placed in a bad situation. William Shakespeare play “King Lear” represents loyalty over power and the characters who demonstrates the act of loyalty are Cordelia, Kent, and the Fool although they were accused by the king to be disrespectful an dishonorable. Cordelia, also known as the daughter of King Lear demonstrates the act of loyalty towards her father (King Lear). Cordelia is one of the characters in the play who care for King Lear after he gave up all his power, his land, and his home.
King Lear considers Goneril and Regan his two daughters out of the three to be his only children who are loyal since their speeches spoken to him said so. As for Cordelia she is disclaimed by her father due to her poor speech when she said to him “… by all the operation of the orbs from whom we do exist and cease to be here I disclaim all your paternal care, propinquity, and property of blood, and as a stranger to my heart and me hold thee from this forever” (Shakespeare, 111-116). Although King Lear feel betrayed by his own daughter Cordelia due her poor speech that is not the case.
When asked by King Lear for Cordelia to confess her love for her him, she responded her love for her father was nothing more than the bond giving by him. Although she tried to explain to her father she will not speak for the love she has for him in order to receive riches due to the fact that would be deceiving. King Lear fuming with anger after hearing the words of Cordelia evicts her without any of his inheritance or money. Although he mistreated Cordelia, not once did Cordelia think of doing the same to her father.
When King Lear was put in one of his worst situations ever Cordelia could have treated him with hate but instead came to him with a clean heart when said to her father “O you kind gods, cure this great breach in his abused nature, th’ untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up, of this child-changed father! ” (Shakespeare, 4. 7. 12-15). Cordelia’s actions towards her father during his hard time speak for her loyalty in the play. Although mistreated by her father she didn’t hold a grudge against her father, but still with love and respect honors King Lear as her father.
Kent, a servant of King Lear demonstrates loyalty in “King Lear” by William Shakespeare’s. Kent was banished from King Lear presences after stating the truth about the mistake Lear was making when he said “Royal Lear, whom I have ever honored as my king, loved as my father, as my master followed, as my great patron thought in my prayers.. / Let it fall rather, though the fork invade the region of my heart. Be Kent unmannerly when Lear is mad…. Think’st thou that duty shall have dread to speak when power to flattery bows? To plainness honor’s bound when majesty falls to folly.
Reserve thy state… ” (Shakespeare, 1. 1. 139/ 144). Due to Kent loyalty and honesty, King Lear took it as betrayal and dishonor. Kent was banished from the town and if he was to be spotted on the land a week after it would result in the end of his life. The motivation and intention of Kent was to serve and protect the King, and not be rewarded for his loyalty. Although banished by King Lear, Kent did anything in his will to make sure he was close to the King. King Lear couldn’t recognize Kent and Kent did not reveal his identity either. Kent remained a loyal servant and a friend to the King.
Kent also demonstrated his loyalty towards th king when he stated “… Gracious my lord, hard by here is a hovel. Some Friendship will it lend you ‘gainst the tempest. Repose you there… ” (Shakespeare, 3. 2. 59-61). Kent didn’t have to help the King, but he did it anyway even if it caused him his life. His actions rather than his words demonstrated the love and loyalty he had for King Lear even if he didn’t realize it himself. Loyalty is also proven in “King Lear” by the character the Fool. The Fool demonstrates loyalty because he carry the same characteristics as Kent.
The Fool is full of wisdom but also speaks his peace of mind and remains by the side of King Lear like Kent. The Fool reveals to readers that he is not afraid to tell things how they are and how he sees it. Although the purpose of the fool in the play is to lessen the mood of what’s going on, he also touches on reality by being completely honest when he stated“… Nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou’lt catch cold shortly. There, take my coxcomb. Why, this fellow has banished two on’s daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will. If thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb” (Shakespeare, 1. 4. 87-92).
Within The Fool being honest opened the eyes of King Lear around his wrongs and damages he caused by letting go of his power along with his kingdom. The Fool had to harshly let King Lear know these things since Lear wasn’t trying to listen to anybody else who warned when he stated “Fools had ne’er less wit in a year, for wise men are grown foppish. They know not how their wits to wear, their manners are so apish” (Shakespeare, 1. 4. 149-152). The fool, although harshly letting King Lear know his wrongs also reveal his loyalty towards the King. The Fool escorts the king through his unhappy, depressed, miserable journey to help him.
The Fool shows his loyalty and gratitude through his directness, but it was nothing but good intentions towards King Lear. The Fool loyalty towards the king later on leads to his own death. The play written by Shakespeare “King Lear” is about loyalty. This play revealed to readers Loyalty over rules power. Loyalty was shown through actions rather than words. The characters who demonstrated loyalty towards King Lear were Cordelia, Kent, and the fool. Cordelia who was banished by her father King Lear, yet instead of her turning her back on her father she still remained loyal during his hardship.
Kent, King Lear’s who did everything in his will to protect the king was banished by the king himself. Although Kent was banished by the king did not stop him from remaining loyal to King Lear. Kent still remained by his side even if it cost him his life. The Fool was also a character in the play who showed King Lear loyalty The Fool let King Lear know what he was doing wrong harshly, not only that but the fool stuck by King Lear side to guide him through his miserable journey to the point it even cost him his own life.
Throughout many characters, Shakespeare shows that through his rough situations, those who he banished from his presence were the ones who stuck by his side until the end. Shakespeare also lay emphasis on those who King Lear thought less of, were those who were truthfully loyal to him up until the end. In the end, “loyalty” is a mutual theme of King Lear, Shakespeare throughout the play illustrates that loyalty does not just mean words, but by actions.