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Why is Cordelia the best ever? Because she allows her father to treat her
horribly, a result of his pride and foolishness, and then forgives him anyway?
Because she is SO She's QUIET and loving. Are these indeed admirable qualities
in a woman? According to whom? Now take the outspoken, strident, not nearly
as easily forgiving women like Portia, Cleopatra or Isabella; why aren't they
the "all time best" women in literature. I had read from Shakespeare critics,
before I acutally read King Lear, that Cordelia is univerally considered the "best"
of Shakespeare's women. When I did finally read _King Lear_, I was amazed that they
found her so. She is certainly not someone, if I were a woman, I would want to emulate.
In short, Cordelia's the PATRIARCHAL ideal, but certainly not THE ideal woman.Posted by Kimball One on March 21, 1997 at 16:02:52
In Reply to "CORDELIA, IS SHE THE ALL-TIME BEST WOMAN IN ALL LITERATURE?" posted by Matt on March 18, 1997 at 18:19:18
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