Freitas, Shakespeare, and Feminism in William Shakespeare's King Lear

            Dr. Donna Freitas makes a strong case for her belief that Shakespeare “simultaneously reflected and transformed Medieval and Renaissance values” in many of his works, including King Lear.  I agree with her theory because, in addition to Dr. Freitas’s reasoning, the actions of all of the women in the play reflect and transform the Medieval values.  The actions of Goneril and Regan seem to prove the belief that women could not be independent without causing chaos (or at least adding to the already-established chaos).  Cordelia, however, represents an opposing view of women that appears to be one of Shakespeare’s beliefs.

            Shakespeare sets up a strong contrast between the Medieval and Renaissance view of women and a more progressive, modern view of women.  He reflects the old beliefs through the characters of Regan and Goneril.  The Medieval view of women was a belief that women were submissive and conformed to all of the assumptions of men.  Women who attempted independence were believed to cause chaos with their foolish attempt at becoming dependent.  The two sisters fit into this mold because they could not handle the responsibilities of freedom.  While, as Dr. Freitas states, “[King Lear] must accept responsibility for how his daughters behave,” a strong, responsible man (or Cordelia, in this case) would have been able to see through the chaos caused by the king.  Instead, they take control and make an enormous mess of things.  In the end, they pay for it through their dishonorable deaths by suicide and poison.

            The opposite view is represented through the character of Cordelia.  She easily (and quickly) sees through the stupidity of Lear’s actions, and, by saying that she loves him “according to [her] bond,” she acknowledges that her father’s test is unnatural and will lead to chaos.  Cordelia also recognizes the limits of language and the power of silence, which is something her sisters never understood.  The portrayal of the Fool adds to the sense of Cordelia’s ability to see the truth.  The Fool is the only character in the play that is able to see and speak of truth as it was before the king’s actions.  He is sad because he misses Cordelia and does not like the other two daughters.  The fact that the only true character left without Cordelia and Kent is the one who misses Cordelia shows that she must be right and true.  Even if the Fool is Cordelia, the point is held because she retains her ability to see the truth of the situation.  Her fate at the end of the play represents much about Shakespeare’s beliefs.  She dies more honorably than her sisters, but her death may mean more than that.  Shakespeare used her death as a representation of the rejection of his ideas.  He knew that he was going against the assumptions of his day and that his message would not be easily accepted.  Cordelia is the representation of Shakespeare’s beliefs about women.

            Dr. Freitas’s theory is rooted strongly in the content of King Lear, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to disprove that Shakespeare was both reflecting and transforming the Medieval and Renaissance views of women.  He may have done so as an appeasement to the crowd by disguising his controversial views with the classic characters of Regan and Goneril, or he may have used the contrast to emphasize the correctness of Cordelia’s way of living and the wrongness of the sisters’ attempts at taking over the kingdom.  Either way, however, Shakespeare clearly makes his point.