Overall...

Overall, when I think of the play King Lear, I think of the phrase "actions speak louder than words." King Lear was angered with Cordelia's lack of verbal response when he asked her how much she loved him, however he seemed to overlook all of the ways in which she demonstrated her love for him over the years. When he says that "nothing comes from nothing," he is really saying that if she doesn't say that she loves him, then that must mean that she has no real love for him. Not only does he feel like Cordelia has no love for him, but he later on realizes with a sickening blow that Gonaril and Reagan don't really love him as they professed to either. I think this is when he starts realizing that "actions speak louder than words." Just as Gonaril and Reagan's actions demonstrate their true feelings of annoyance and greed, Lear slowly starts to realize that Cordelia's actions of love over the years demonstrate her true feelings of loyalty and devotion.

Fundamentally, when I think of King Lear I reflect on the fact that love doesn't always use words to communicate. It can, but it's an emotion more than a verbal definition. I think love is demonstrated far more powerfully with actions, and not only big grandiose displays or gifts, but rather the consistence of the "little things" that add up and truly demonstrate the level, dedication, and consistency of a person's love. Sometimes you have to look more carefully to see all of these little things and how they're significant, but I think the only reason they're deemed "little things" is that it takes a lot longer for little things to add up, so it can be hard to see their significance all at once. I think that's why King Lear thought that Cordelia didn't love him at first, because he wasn't looking for the little things. He wanted one big grand show demonstrating her love, but he didn't get it because Cordelia knew that real love doesn't need "one big grand show" to be conveyed, and she wasn't willing to blaspheme the name of love in doing that.