a feminist reading of King Lear

A feminist literary critic would be interested in analyzing King Lear, particularly 1.1.190-1.1.276, the first scene in the play in which the king divides his land between his daughters. King Lear asks his daughters who loves him the most, and Regan and Goneril begin flattering him while his youngest daughter, Cordelia, refrains because she feels language is not adequate when it comes to conveying love. Lear becomes furious with her and strips her of her dowry. The rest of the scene is a discussion between various suitors and feels like an auction.

Cordelia’s entire value as a human being is degraded in this scene. King Lear says, “But now her price is fallen” (line 198). Women in this society are not treated as people. They are worth only the money that is attached to them and are thus a commodity. Burgundy will not take Cordelia’s hand in marriage. The King of France seems more righteous and to have a more feminist attitude when he says, “She herself is a dowry,” (243). He takes her hand and makes her Queen of France.

However, even this seemingly feminist moment falls short of being true freedom for women. As Virginia Woolf pointed out in “A Room of One’s Own” a women is not free so long as she does not have her own space and her own money. Cordelia is subjected to sharing her space and relying on her husband for her livelihood. Additionally, Cordelia is not actually given a choice in marrying France. At no point does he ask her for her own intentions, and even if Cordelia were asked, she would not be able to refuse because she could not create her own livelihood as a female in that society. France orders Cordelia to, “Bid farewell to your sisters” (269) illustrating Cordelia’s plight as a female, changing hands from one man, her father, to another, her husband. What makes Cordelia different than France, Burgundy, or Lear? Feminist theorist Simone de Beauvoir said, “One is not born a women, one becomes one.” This is exactly what happened to Cordelia in King Lear. A further analysis of the play would reveal more moments of interest to feminist literary critics, as women are consistently reduced to child-bearing vessels.