A Feminist's Perception

In the opening of act one scene one, I immediately catch sight of a feminist point of view. In this act, King Lear anticipates to divide his power and kingdom among his three daughters. “Demanding public professions of their lives.” Meaning sweet talking, and showering Lear with compliments. However, when Lear’s youngest daughter refuses, Lear takes her dowry away. A Feminist critic might assume that the female characters are portrayed to be inferior human beings in comparison to men, because it is illustrated that this man King Lear, has absolute power, and these three young women are told what to do, and expected to listen. This obligation that Lear expects from his daughters seem so natural, and are qualities expected from his daughters. In act one, scene one, a feminist critic could also conclude that men held the power in society. Act one, scene one, Cordelia admits that she is unhappy. The mistreatment she suffers, as a result of not gratifying her father like the other two sisters, causes her to feel miserable. Cordelia reveals that she only loves Lear “according to her bond. Her obligation pf child and father.” Her duties are listed, “to obey, love, and honor her father”. A Feminist critic would suppose that women were not given many opportunities to make choices on their own. A feminist critic would observe that Cordelia’s lacks independence. Although Cordelia is unhappy, in act one, scene one, the audience does not witness another alternative to Cordelia’s situation. Cordelia’s only option is to continue carrying out her responsibility, which is satisfy her father. Cordelia’s silence makes her motivations hard to understand, for example, her refusal to announce her love for her father at the beginning of the play.