reconciled

There is forgiveness, at least on Cordelia’s part, when she reunites with her father at the end of Act IV. Shakespeare writes his villains as inherently evil and likewise portrays his hero’s or heroine’s as inherently good. They usually possess patience, forbearance, honesty, and goodness, but most of all, they possess forgiveness. Furthermore, they seem willing to bestow their forgiveness on those who have wronged them most. It’s a trait that I don’t think a many people actually have but one that is very much desired. Therefore it is satisfying to see it in Shakespeare’s characters.
Manifestations of Cordelia’s forgiveness to her father can be seen even before their meeting at the end of Act IV. Right after King Lear requests verbal validation of love from his three daughters, Cordelia is unable to “pet” his ego because it goes against what love represents to her. However, she seems less bitter towards her father after he banishes her than she does at herself for her own lack of “glib and oily art”. (act. 1: scene 1, line 213) It endears as well as frustrates the reader that she is too honest to save herself and then reproaches herself for her lack of skill in flattering speech.
As to their actual reuniting, Cordelia is the one that comes to King Lear, not the other way around which again proves that she holds no grudge against her father. She kisses his face before he is even awake and attempts to “Repair those violent harms that my two sisters have in thy reverence made!” (act 4: scene 7, line 30) And after she is able to convince him that she is indeed real, she assists him as they walk away together. I think that is evidence enough that Cordelia forgave her father and died with some measure of peace in the knowledge that they had reconciled.
I do not believe, on the other hand, that King Lear had it so easy. While he may have understood the forgiveness of his daughter, the guilt and remorse he felt as a result of his hasty, selfish actions at the beginning of the play, probably haunted him until his death. It almost seems merciful that Shakespeare lets him die at the end as it was only then that he was free of the burden of guilt. Even as they walked away arm in arm he seemed unsure of her forgiveness. He begs her to “forget and forgive. I am old and foolish.” (act 4: scene 7, line 91) As he brings Cordelia’s body he still hasn’t come to terms with her death. He requests a piece of glass so that he may test if she still breathes. The ironic part is that he killed their relationship through his own actions long before Cordelia’s physical death. I believe he died unable to forgive himself, it was unnecessary to forgive Cordelia, and therefore there was not a reconciliation on his part.