Failures of a Father and a King.

While reading King Lear and discussing it in class I started wondering what makes a good leader. The more I read the more I came to believe that all the problems facing England were due the poor decision of it’s King to shirk his duties. Being king of an entire country is not simply a job or a career it is a lifestyle. King Lear was acting selfishly when he made the decision to divide his kingdom prematurely and allowed his pride to rule him when he disowned Cordelia. King Lear went into the meeting with his daughters and their partners knowing the outcome of his coming discussion. He knew the character of his daughters. He knew how self-serving Goneril and Regan were. It should not have mattered if Cordelia had screamed profanities in his face. She still would have been the best choice and the most able ruler. He wasn't looking for a true answer to his question he was looking to have his ego stroked. When Cordelia refuses he allows his pride to be hurt and responds violently and irrationally. By allowing his emotions to rule him he dooms thousands of his people to civil war and his country to the invasion of a foreign land.
Not only did he disown Cordelia in a fit of rage he also dismisses his loyal friend Kent when he feels threatened by reason. This isolates the aging King and he has no one left to rely on except for his harpy daughters who end up turning on him the minute they gain power. King Lear not only fails as a ruler, but also as a father.