Discretion In Shakespeare's King Lear
King Lear believes that Regan will treat him differently from her sister, Goneril and will show him respect because he hopes she understands the “offices of nature, bond of childhood,/ [E]ffects of courtesy, dues of gratitude” (Shakespeare 2.4.202-3). He believes Regan is bound to him based on the natural order of family relations and hierarchy of power. However, there is a definite shift in power as Regan declines King Lear’s complaints against his sister, and in fact blames him. Regan dismisses King Lear’s requests to stay with her at the castle, and tells him he should go back to Goneril. Regan states, “O sir, you are old… You should be ruled and led/ By some discretion that discerns your state/ Better than yourself” (2.4.165,166-68). King