In Shakespeare’s King Lear, Lear poses a crucial question to his daughters at the outset of the play: he asks them to declare how much they love him. This inquiry is not merely about affection; it serves as a test of loyalty and produces dramatic consequences throughout the narrative.
Specifically, in Act 1, Scene 1, Lear requests each daughter to express her love in order to determine how to divide his kingdom among them. Goneril and Regan, his elder daughters, flatter him with extravagant declarations, while Cordelia, the youngest, offers a more reserved but genuine response. Lear misinterprets Cordelia’s honesty as a lack of love, leading him to disown her.
This moment is pivotal, as it sets off a chain reaction of betrayal, madness, and tragedy. It highlights themes of authority, familial bonds, and the nature of love, illustrating how miscommunication and the pursuit of power can lead to devastating consequences.