Thesis: King Lear’s madness is instrumental in the progression of his ethical/moral development.
Introduction:????
Body Paragraph 1: In Act 1, Scene 1, King Lear’s madness is revealed. When Lear tells his daughters to express who loves him most, we realize that this is not a test of love, but a test of obedience. Cordelia refuses to flatter him, stating that, “my love’s more ponderous than my tongue” (1.1.82-83). Lear lashes out saying, “Better thou hadst not been born than not to have pleased me better” (1.1.258-259). Lear is power driven, which is why he gets furious with Cordelia when she does not follow his commands. As a king, Lear has absolute power; however when Cordelia disobeys his orders, he feels as if she is questioning his authority.
