Home > King Lear Summary & Study Guide > King Lear Group > Discussion Board

I would appreciate any help I can get with this open-ended question I have recieved, as I cannot figure out any definitive answer (ie. either "well" or badly") that my instructor requires.

I find that Goneril and Reagan work together towards common goals, which indicates a good treatment towards each other, albeit for malicious purposes.

At the same time, the pair mistreats Cordelia because she is reasonable in her actions, and this suggests women treat each other poorly in the play.

Overall, how would you say women treat each other in King Lear? Am I missing any important concepts?

Lear's three daughters can be placed in two broad categories--good & bad. The bad daughters misbehave with their old father & also causes damage to the good sister. Goneril and Regan are 'pelican daughters' who fight a lot between themselves for power, wealth & control; what is even worse, they conspire against each other to win the love of the illegitimate Edmund.

You should focus on the battle between the good & the bad as well as the secret immoral love of the two bad daughters for the unscrupulous Edmund. You should explore how Goneril & Regan corrupt the filial relationship and makes a travesty of sisterly bond, how they spoil each other & in the process destroy the goodness so preciously embodied in Cordelia.