Over the centuries women have been subjugated and criticized not only by the male gender, but by society as a whole. With each generation there is a new respect for women; being able to speak loudly, being able to drive, being able to vote and being able to do a "man's" job. All these cases point to the progress women are making in society. However, no matter how hard they try, women fail to be treated equally to men. Even though we now have women as senators, mayors, and other leadership positions, women are still considered inferior in the eyes of men. It is because of the countless expectations set many years ago that women are still considered weak, emotional and unimportant. Shakespeare took the first steps in demonstrating that women could be just as dangerous and powerful as men in the kingdom in his play King Lear. It showed the audience that even though some women are weaker, there are those who surpass the expectations set by their predecessors that they don't have to follow those rules, that they can be just like men, and yet still act like a woman. Act I Shakespeare grants power to women by letting King Lear divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on how much they say they love him. The two eldest, Regan and Goneril, are the most deceitful with their words, while the youngest, Cordelia, is honest with her words. Lear was the victim of the elder who interpreted his emotions well to manipulate him and get the most out of him. Cordelia chose not to play their evil game and chose to stand up for what she believes was right, which led to her exile from her father's kingdom. In other words, he demonstrated to the audience that just because the other women were in... middle of paper... grief and Edmund is killed by his brother, he framed the attempted murder of their father. Cordelia is killed by a knight sent by Edmund and Lear dies of grief. The deaths illustrate the rights and wrongs a woman is capable of despite what is thought of her. The wrongs caused by older sisters only compound the wrongs done to their father, sister, husbands, and kingdom. Proving that women can and will do whatever they want to get what they want. By Cordelia's right, she prepared for exile, which helped her avoid the madness in the kingdom, and the forgiveness she was asked for after the wrong was done to her. Give the image that women are strong and know when to forgive the right person and the right crime. Even though a lot of things were done to her, she used her emotions and her brain to do the right thing.