Most Loved, Despised

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         We're up to Shakespeare in our British literature class. This is my first time reading King Lear, unless I read a children's version before. The two plays we read before now are Everyman and Dr. Faustus, and I like King Lear much better. The plot-line is more realistic, the interaction of the characters more dynamic, and the fact that they have names like Oswald and Regan etc. and not Gluttony or Good Deeds makes it feel a lot more modern. My favorite bit so far is the King of France's proposal speech to King Lear's daughter, Cordelia. Actually, it's more like an acceptance speech, or a savior's speech, because just before this King Lear disowns Cordelia and revokes both his blessing and the dowry (which was supposed to be one-third of his kingdom). Cordelia also has just been rejected by the Duke of Burgundy.

Here are birdy sounds for you to listen to as you read.

"Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor;

Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised!

Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:

Be it lawful I take up what's cast away.

Gods, gods! 'tis strange that from their cold'st neglect

My love should kindle to inflamed respect.

Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,

Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France.

Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy

Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.

Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind;

Thou losest here, a better where to find."

--King Lear, Act 1 Scene 1