Lear vs. Goneril (1 Viewer)

[Ace-Of-Spades]

Lear: It may be so, my lord.
Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful!
Into her womb convey sterility!
Dry up in her the organs of increase;
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honour her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen; that it may live,
And be a thwart disnatured torment to her!
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks;
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child! Away, away!

Lear is basically saying this to Goneril right? Why exactly is he saying this, somthing to do with the knights...?

Also, any ideas for this:
My Post Here

 

[banana_hammock]

Well my understanding is that he's saying this to her because she would not accomodate him with his 100 knights. It is quite barbaric imagery if you re-read the speech more critically. He is basically cursing her because she is an ungrateful child who is not pleasing her father, which was a BIG deal in the time in which Lear was first staged. Think back to values in that era, you know, that children are indebted to their parents and their only purpose is to serve their parents and be submissive. Hence, this is the reason for Lear's fierce outrage.