The way King Lear has been influenced by gender stereotypes is immediately present in King Lear’s attitude towards the role of women. Having been enraged by the ‘betrayal’ of him by his daughter he wishes her to be sterile. King Lear says ‘into her womb convey sterility’ and ‘dry up in her the organs of increase’. These two statements, part of a lengthier, more bizarre speech, display what men felt would be the worst punishment to grant upon a woman, as King Lear is looking to punish Cordelia as greatly as possible. This reveals that there was clearly an assumption that all the value of a woman was in her ability to bear children, in other words women were seen to be of little use, other than being at the disposal of men.
Moreover, in
