Pride, which she calls plainness (1.1.129-137)

KING LEAR

Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany, With my two daughters' dowers digest this third: Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. I do invest you jointly with my power, Pre-eminence, and all the large effects That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course, With reservation of an hundred knights, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode Make with you by due turns.

Lear continues to order his servants, but it should be noted that Burgundy’s name falls on a different line to France’s, and this line contains the names of the husbands of the elder sisters. Perhaps this is showing that he expects Burgundy to take her as he is more directly a part of the list than France - making France’s good nature more surprising. It also foreshadows Burgundy’s greedy aims in marrying Cordelia as Albany and Cornwall - who he is juxtaposed with - are the two ruthless sisters’ husbands. Notice the order of the names: Burgundy (Cordelia’s potential husband is first), Cornwall (Regan’s cruel husband), and Albany (Goneril’s far more decent husband). The order is clearly youngest to oldest, but it is also ordered by how much he loved them. Cordelia - his “joy” - is first, Regan, who he never has any real hatred towards is next, and Goneril is last (she is the daughter that Lear most greatly insults) showing that she is his least favourite. The consonance on the following line is interesting as it starts at the beginning of each word: ”daughters’ dowers digest”. Here it acts to emphasise that only two will receive dowers, but - by the end of the line - the consonance acts at the end of the word “third”, putting a yet stronger emphasis on this “third” which will be divided between the two elder sisters. Notice “digest”, which reminds us yet again of a Scythian who “gorges his appetite” by eating his family. In a sense, Regan and Goneril are devouring Cordelia by taking the land that would have been hers. Moreover, the two are the most fitting comparison of yet, since both are cruel in their dealings of enemies, and both are women who defy the norms that Elizabethan women were expected to follow, much like Amazons. Lear goes on to say that Cordelia should marry her “pride”; this is ironic as it is Lear’s pride that prevents him from seeing the great strength of Cordelia’s plain honesty. The comparison of “pride” with “plainness” is heightened by the alliteration. This metaphor sort of implies that whoever marries her is “pride”. This is a reminder that noble pride is not always a bad thing as France’s is reasonable and benevolent. Lear next uses a rule of three to list the matters he will pass down: “power, pre-eminence, and all the large effects that troop with majesty”, emphasising them. The verb “troop” could perhaps suggest that Lear’s strength as a king is through the military. Next, he mentions that by “monthly course” he will stay with Goneril and Regan. This is oddly similar to menstruation; perhaps this shows how he is weak and put into a position of reliance like women of the time. He also mentions his “hundred knights”; these knights are crucial to the (modern) audience’s perception of the characters in this play. Should they be shown in full size, Goneril’s claims are viewed as more reasonable. Imagine having that many people in your house? Imagine having that many rowdy people in your house? Whereas if only a few knights are shown, it’s easy to side with Lear who talks about 100 but only really has a small number of soldiers with him. Goneril’s decision then loses a lot of its rationality, and we pity Lear more. Lear expects these soldiers and himself to be cared for both Goneril, Regan, and their husbands. This trust in the three most evil characters in the play truly marks him as an idiot.