Shakespeare for the Sincere

"She is herself a dowry," says the French prince in response to the information that Cordelia would have no dowry. I would be hard pressed to find a more sincere expression of love in all of Shakespeare's works. Every husband and potential suitor ought to feel that way about the woman he loves. Contrast that with the countless other expressions of love in this play, many of which demonstrate a lack of sincerity, honesty, and integrity which is absolutely nauseating and heart wrenching. The play opens with declarations as nauseatingly sweet as they were blatantly false from Regan and Goneril. The king completely buys their falsity while casting out and disowning his sincere daughter who refuses to suck up. (I suppose it is fitting that the sincere Cordelia should receive such a sincere compliment from her lover. As we are so often told these days, light attracts light.) Before the scene even ends the 2 deceitful daughters are already plotting against their father. Of course there is the backwards relationship of Gloucester and his sons; again, the loyal and sincere son Edgar being ousted in favor of the deceitful and malicious son Edmond.

The French Prince's expression of love reflects more than just love but an understanding of the worth of man (or woman in this case). Such a theme is also addressed in this play, with Lear's question, "Is man no more than this?" (Act 3 scene 4) provoking further discussion of this issue. Present in the statement from the French prince is an acknowledgment of the inherent worth which Cordelia has, even without a dowry of money. Lear's question, posed after seeing poor Tom, who is devoid of all man made trimmings, implies the worthlessness of man. "Consider him well," says Lear. He points out that without the coverings that come from other animals and plants, Poor Tom demonstrates the essence of man. "Thou art the thing itself: unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art." A poor, bare, forked animal? That sentiment is a far cry from the French Prince's sentiment. The contrast reminds me of one of the best talks of all time, "You Matter to Him" by President Uchtdorf. He explores the
contrasting descriptions of the worth of man of man "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God" and "Man is nothing" with the statements "We are greater than you suppose" and "We are less than we suppose." I highly recommend the talk, and will refrain from saying anything else on the subject because President Uchtdorf says it better; but it sufficeth me to say that Shakespeare yet again hit upon one of the great questions of the soul, and yet again God's servants addressed that question perfectly with the light of the Revealed Gospel.