The lack of flattery on Cordelia’s part is misinterpreted by Lear and by others. Th

e King interpreted it as a lack of respect when all his daughter wanted is to be honest. Cordelia’s actions were motivated only by her father’s good not by her own self-interest. She cared mostly for her father’s welfare and protection than what she could get in return if she had exaggerated her love for her father. She new that her sisters intentions where not true, and she refused to follow there steps. By telling her father honestly how she feels towards him she reveals indirectly her sister’s intentions. “Why have my sisters husbands, if they say they love you all” (1.1.101). These words reveal Cordelia’s awareness of her sister’s bad intentions. She rather tell the truth than lie for her own benefit. Like Gilligan explains in Douglas Birsch article (.157), “moral goodness is understood in terms of self-sacrifice” and Cordelia sure sacrificed a lot by telling the truth.

Another thing is that Cordelia was able to make the judgment of good and bad. She did not want to say some lie that would be said only

Some topics in this essay:
Douglas Birsch, Principles Morals, Lear King, King Lear, King Lear’s, Lear Cordelia’s, Doing Cordelia, Care Kant’s, Immanuel Kant, ideal picture, Lear Shakespeare’s, king lear, diminish ideal, bad intentions, picture caring, moral goodness, diminish ideal picture, ideal picture caring, one’s own, love king,