LANGUAGE

If for I want that glib and oily art/To speak and purpose not 1:1 224-5 

Cordelia attacks the insincerity of her sisters in the love test. The diction choice of ‘oily’ suggests their manipulation, whilst ‘glib’ suggests their words are facile and superficial. She claims that she would never declare anything that she would not act on (deeds not words). 

Which of you shall we say doth love us most?” (1.1) line 51  

Lear reduces love to speech establishing a world from the beginning that is governed by language and flattery over morality. He treats love as something that can be publicly declared, measured, and rewarded. The interrogative form highlights Lear’s insecurity and need for validation.  

‘Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter/ Dearer than eyesight, space and liberty’ - Goneril Act 1 Sc 1 L55 - 56 

Goneril's address term ‘sir’ is formal and gives her speech a transactional tone as she does her duty. 

Her false flattery is evident as she contradicts herself as she says she cannot quantify her love with words then proceeds to do that. 

She uses lots of abstraction and repetition in ‘Eyesite space and liberty’ which create and ingenuine hyperbolic tone.  Her speech is impersonal and contains nothing specific which devalues language with its ingenuine love. 

Blank Verse – shows respect 

“ let me not be mad, not mad” Lear 1.5 

The repetition of “not mad” is ironic and it shows a state of madness through the fact he must repeat himself in order to be heard or solidify what he is asking. It shows his mental decline from the start and the language used reflects the breakdown happening in his identity and madness as well as breakdown of his speech and self. 

“Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!” Lear 4.6.188 

The repetition of the verb “kill” six times emphasises the unrestrained rage Lear has in this scene and demonstrates how quick to anger he is when he feels unstable. The combination of this imperative as an exclamation highlights the violence simmering within the king.  

‘I cannot heave my heart into my mouth’ 

Cordelia cannot physically bring herself to devalue language as her sisters do, the assonance in the words ‘heave’ and ‘heart’ suggest that this action is painful for her, furthering the difference between her and her sisters and her father. The assonance also creates an urgent tone as if Cordelia is desperate to get her father to see through their lies. 

‘Howl, howl, howl!’ - Lear 5.3.255 

The repetition of the monosyllabic ’howl’ exposes that Lear’s pain is so great that it eliminates his capacity for language. The animalistic imagery of ‘howl’ connotes sorrow but also suggests humans are fundamentally animalistic and crave human connection above all. 

“Ay, every inch a king” 4.6 Lear 

Language becomes unstable and ironic in King Lear. Although Lear verbally asserts his kingship the claim exists only in words exposing the gap between language and reality. Lear’s need to assert this declaration emphasises his lack of control over his kingship and how increasingly he becomes less and less of a king through language and actions 

“What is ’t thou sayst?—Her voice was ever soft, 
Gentle, and low, an excellent thing in woman.” 5.3 

The dash represents a physical and mental break - Lear is hallucinating or desperately hoping that Cordelia has spoken. Additionally, the interrogative shows a mind struggling to grip reality. His language  highlights his total loss of power. 

“What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent.” 1.1 62 

Cordelia’s love for Lear is so strong that no words can accurately reflect it so she decides to “be silent” so as to not give a too shallow description.