In Act 4, Scene 7 of William Shakespeare's King Lear, Cordelia, the youngest daughter of King Lear, expresses profound sorrow and compassion for her father's suffering. The monologue in question is an amalgamation of her lines from this scene, reflecting her deep concern and desire for his recovery.

Title of Monologue:

Cordelia's Monologue from Act 4, Scene 7 of King Lear

Synopsis:

Cordelia prays to the gods to heal the "great breach" in her father's "abused nature," seeking restoration of his sanity. She expresses a desire to repair the harm inflicted upon him by her sisters, Goneril and Regan. Observing his frail state, she laments the cruelty he has endured, noting that even an enemy's dog would have been treated with more compassion. She is astonished that he survived the harsh conditions imposed upon him, given his advanced age and fragile state.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Prior to this scene, King Lear has been subjected to severe mistreatment by his elder daughters, Goneril and Regan, leading to his descent into madness. Cordelia, having been estranged, returns with the French army to rescue her father. She finds him in a debilitated state and, with the help of a doctor, seeks to restore his health and sanity.

Original Text:

CORDELIA:

O you kind Gods,

Cure this great breach in his abused nature!

Th’untuned and jarring senses, O! wind up

Of this child-changed father.

Be govern’d by your knowledge, and proceed

I’th’sway of your own will. Is he array’d?

O my dear father! Restoration hang

Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss

Repair those violent harms that my two sisters

Have in thy reverence made!

Had you not been their father, these white flakes

Did challenge pity on them. Was this a face

To be oppos’d against the warring winds?

To stand against the deep dread-bolt thunder?

In the most terrible and nimble stoke

Of quick, cross lightning? To watch – poor perdu! –

With this thin helm? Mine enemy’s dog,

Though he had bit me, should have stood that night

Against my fire. And wast thou fain, poor father,

To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn,

In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!

‘Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once

Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him.

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language:

CORDELIA:

Oh, kind gods, Heal the deep wound in his tormented mind! Restore the harmony of his disrupted senses In this father changed by his children's actions. Follow your expertise and proceed As you see fit. Is he dressed? Oh, my dear father! May this kiss Serve as medicine to heal the severe injuries That my two sisters have inflicted upon you. Even if you weren't their father, your white hair Would have evoked pity. Was this a face To be exposed to the raging winds? To endure the dreadful thunderbolts? In the most terrifying and swift strikes Of quick, cross lightning? To keep watch—poor sentinel!— With this thin covering? Even my enemy's dog, Had it bitten me, should have stayed that night By my fire. And were you forced, poor father, To shelter with pigs and abandoned rogues, In short and musty straw? Alas, alas! It's a wonder that your life and sanity Didn't end together. He wakes; speak to him.

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words:

Breach: A gap or rupture; here, referring to a significant disruption in Lear's mental state.
Abused nature: His tormented or damaged mental and emotional condition.
Untuned and jarring senses: Disordered and conflicting perceptions and faculties.
Wind up: To restore to proper condition or harmony.
Child-changed: Transformed or driven to madness by his children's behavior.
Be govern’d by your knowledge: Follow your expertise.
I’th’sway of your own will: As you see fit.
Array’d: Dressed.
Restoration hang thy medicine on my lips: May this kiss serve as healing.
Reverence: Deep respect; here, referring to Lear's dignity.
White flakes: White hair, symbolizing old age.
Warring winds: Violent storms.
Dread-bolt thunder: Terrifying thunderbolts.
Nimble stroke of quick, cross lightning: Swift strikes of lightning.
Perdu: A soldier assigned to extremely hazardous duty; here, a sentinel.
Thin helm: Thin covering; metaphorically referring to his hair.
Fain: Gladly; here, forced.
Hovel thee: Shelter yourself.
Swine and rogues forlorn: Pigs and abandoned rogues.
Musty straw: Damp and moldy straw.
Alack: An expression of sorrow or regret.
Concluded all: Ended everything.

Breakdown of Text into ‘New Thought’ Paragraphs:

Invocation to the Gods:
O you kind Gods, Cure this great breach in his abused nature! Th’untuned and jarring senses, O! wind up Of this child-changed father.
Cordelia appeals to the benevolent deities, beseeching them to heal the profound disruption in her father's tormented mind and restore harmony to his disordered faculties, acknowledging the transformation wrought by his children's actions.
Deference to Medical Expertise:
Be govern’d by your knowledge, and proceed I’th’sway of your own will. Is he array’d?
She defers to the doctor's expertise, urging him to act according to his professional judgment, and inquires if Lear has been properly dressed, indicating her concern for his dignity.
Expression of Filial Love and Desire to Heal:
O my dear father! Restoration hang Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss Repair those violent harms that my two sisters Have in thy reverence made!
Cordelia expresses deep affection for Lear, hoping that her kiss might serve as a remedy to heal the severe injuries inflicted upon him by her sisters, Goneril and Regan, thereby restoring his dignity and well-being.
Reflection on Unnatural Treatment:
Had you not been their father, these white flakes Did challenge pity on them. Was this a face To be oppos’d against the warring winds? To stand against the deep dread-bolt thunder? In the most terrible and nimble stroke Of quick, cross lightning?
She reflects that even if Lear were not their father, his age, symbolized by his white hair, should have elicited pity. Cordelia questions how such a venerable face could be subjected to the fury of the elements, emphasizing the cruelty of exposing him to violent storms and lightning.
Lamenting Lear's Suffering:
To watch – poor perdu! – With this thin helm? Mine enemy’s dog, Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Against my fire.
Cordelia laments that Lear, like a forlorn sentinel with only a thin covering (his white hair), was left to face the harsh elements. She asserts that even an enemy's dog, despite having bitten her, would have been allowed to seek shelter by her fire, highlighting the inhumanity of her sisters' actions.
Astonishment at Lear's Endurance:
And wast thou fain, poor father, To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn, In short and musty straw? Alack, alack! ‘Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once Had not concluded all.
She expresses sorrow and disbelief that Lear was compelled to seek refuge among pigs and desolate outcasts, in filthy and damp straw. Cordelia marvels that he survived such degradation without losing both his life and sanity.
Noticing Lear's Awakening:
He wakes; speak to him.
Observing that Lear is awakening, Cordelia prompts herself or others to engage with him, indicating a moment of hopeful anticipation.

Journey Keypoints:

Hook: Cordelia invokes the gods to heal her father's shattered mind.
Turning Point: She reflects on the unnatural and cruel treatment Lear has endured.
Climax: Cordelia laments the inhumanity of exposing Lear to the elements, asserting that even an enemy's dog would have been treated with more compassion.
Resolution: She marvels at Lear's endurance through such suffering and notes his awakening, signaling a moment of hope.

Famous or Notable Actresses Who Have Played the Role:

Diana Rigg: Portrayed Cordelia in the 1983 television adaptation of King Lear, delivering a performance noted for its emotional depth and sincerity.
Emma Thompson: Assumed the role in the 2018 television adaptation, offering a compelling interpretation of Cordelia's compassion and strength.