Rekindled Bonds: Lear and Cordelia's Reunion

Cordelia and King Lear

Throughout the play, King Lear, we are awaiting to see the reunion of Lear and his daughter Cordelia. In the begining of the play Lear wrongfully disowns Cordelia because he does not get the flattery from her that he wishes to hear. However, through much torment after he is reduced to nothing, Lear realizes that he cannot always get what he wants just because he is a king.

"Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia,

The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?

He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven

And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes. ( 5.3, 22- 26)"

Though the two were not in communication through the majority of the play, they still had love for each other and by the end of the play, their bond is reformed. We witness unconditional love between these two characters. Its amazing how much Cordelia still loves her father, even after he disowns her. She still worried about his health and had her soldiers look for him. She was horrified with the way her evil sisters treated her father. Cordelia had married the King of France and later leads an invasion into Dover to save Lear. Thoughout the play Lear is embarassed by the way he treated his favorite daughter, and becomes ashamed of himself for not realizing his affections sooner. Yet, afterall this in Act 4, she excuses her father's behavior by saying "No cause, no cause."

In the scene where they are again reunited, Lear is brought to Cordelia by her men. He only half recognizes her. He says that he knows now that he is senile and not in his right mind, and he assumes that Cordelia hates him and wants to kill him just as her sisters do. Cordelia so gracefully tells him she forgives him for her banishment. Its really only one of the happier events in the book, an event you had been waiting for, for sometime.