THEME - LOVE

RUNNING THEME

• The theme of love is seen throughout the whole play
• It starts with the love test, and ends with a heartbroken Lear,
• as Cordelia dies.
• "Which of you shall say doth love me most"

CORDELIA - LEAR

• Cordelia embodies the theme of love.
• "I cannot heave my heart into my mouth: I love your
• majesty according to my bind, nor more nor less"
• She has unwavering love towards Lear

FRANCE - CORDELIA

• France loves Cordelia no matter what
• "Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich,being poor"
• He loves her and her virtues, not her title and inheritance

G&R - LEAR

• Goneril and Regan exaggerate their love for Lear
• "I love you more than wirds can wield"
• They are feeding his ego, and don't truly love him

LEAR

• He measures love in materialistic terms
• "I'll go with thee: thy fifty yet double five and twenty,
• and thou art twice her love"
• Since Goneril is allowing him twice the troops, he thinks
• that she loves him twice as much as Regan

LEAR - CORDELIA

• As Lear grows wiser, he realise what is important
• "Her voice was ever soft"
• "I killed the slave that was a hanging thee"
• He gets his reveng on Cordelia's executor

GLOUCESTER - EDGAR & EDMUND

• Gloucester loves both his sons, even though Edmund is illigitimate
• "Who yet is no dearer in my account"
• He doesn't love either more than the other, even though
• Edmund is an illegitimate child.