King Lear

Today I want to talk about the relationship that King Lear seems to have with his daughters. During the first scene of the play we read about King Lear asking each of his daughters to state to him the feelings that they had about him. While reading through the text I thought that he was being serious and that both Regan and Goneril were very serious when they stated their feelings. I also thought that Cordelia was very brave with how honest she was towards her father.
However, after watching some of the film in class my thoughts on the scene changed. I know longer saw King Lear as being serious rather he was playing a sort of game with his daughters. I think that he was playing this game for his own benefit and wanted to make himself feel better by hearing his daughters state their love for him. The look on both Regan and Goneril's faces also had me questioning whether they actually meant what they were saying. The both looked very hesitant and like they were only saying what they knew would please their father. Neither looked like they were being honest or like they were very confident in what they were stating. I did however feel the same about Cordelia. I think that she was being very honest about the ways that she felt about her father and was not scared to be honest. I am still unclear if Cordelia realized what the consequences of her actions would be however based on the many warnings her father gave her during her speech makes me think that she probably realized something would come of her not obeying his orders.
Overall I think that King Lear questioning his daughters love towards him was inappropriate. I do not feel that a father should ever question the love that their daughter holds for them.  A daughter should never have to prove their love but rather it should be something that is simply understood. To me a father who uses his daughters to make himself feel better is not a father at all.