Alex Filivaa Re-Write

 Introduction

 I decided to do my rewrite on Shakespeare’s play King Lear. I wanted to look at the story of Cordelia the youngest daughter of King Lear who is only present in the beginning and conclusion of the play. In my rewrite I wrote an account of what may have happened during her exile and what prompted her to return. Since King Lear is prone to making bad decisions I decided to have him portrayed as bad king who forced a village from their homeland to make way for his kingdom.  The story revolves around Cordelia and her handmaiden Helen who was part of the village forced to move away when the kingdom was built. It looks into the internal conflicts she feels having been turned away from her home and how it relates to Helens feelings who was forced off her land. 

Cordelias Decision

“did I do the right thing?”

Cordelia whispered to her as she fled the castle of her father. She had always tried to be an honest and loving daughter and in turn was loved dearly by her father. But this time was different, what was she meant to do? Should I have flattered her father in the ways that her sisters had done? Sold lies to gain affection from him?.

“No”

She told herself to break away from her daydream before she was completely taken by tears. From her sadness she began to feel something else something she was not used to, anger.

“Cordelia?”

The young voice startled her. Recognising the voice straight away she turned to find her hand maiden.

“Helen? What on earth are you doing here?”

Helen had always been loyal to her. Unlike the other castle workers Helen never called her princess and acted rather casual towards everyone. It was this attitude that would get her into so much trouble.  She remembered having to save her from a rather vicious beating at the hands of her sisters Goneril and Regan after they had caught her using one of their hairbrushes.

“Im coming with you” she stated firmly
“Why on earth would you do that”
“Because you have no idea how to look after yourself and I do and you’re already lost”

A wave of guilt flowed over her. Of course how could she have forgotten her family had once lived where the kingdom was now. When it was decided that the castle was to be built on her land her villiage including her family had been forced out of the area and had taken residence in the nearby town. After her family had passed away from illness she came to the castle looking for a job. Lear had taken pity on her and taken her in as a hand maiden.

“Thank you Helen but you must stay here at the castle”
“No thanks I hate that place the only reason I hung around was because you were so kind to me”

Her answer surprised her. She remembered clearly the day she had come to the castle she had begged to stay and serve there.

“At first I wanted to stay there because it was the area we grew up but after staying there I realised it was no longer my home”

She pulled Helen close to her and hugged her tightly.

“Im so sorry you had to go through all that”

“Don’t be silly it’s not your fault. Let’s camp here for the night”

She couldn’t help but feel responsible but tried to push it from her mind. Cordelia watched as Helen made a shelter using branches and leaves and then again to start a fire. She admired her skill while praising her luck in having her around.

“How do you know how to do all this?” she asked Helen
“Hahaha you royals think you know everything”

She looked at her wondering what she meant.

“What do you mean by that?”

“This is common knowledge outside the Kingdom. Not all of us live in a fancy castle and are waited on day and night. Also, we were fine before you guys came barging with your declarations”

“but.. ah..”

She wanted to defend herself but couldn’t find the words or justification to do so. She was right growing up in the castle she was taught that rules they placed on the people around them was necessary and that they needed saving. Yet here she was unable to take care of herself at all. Although Helen had said it was not her fault she couldn’t help but notice that she did in fact blame her in some way.

“You must feel pretty angry right now huh. I saw what Lear did to you that was cold exiling you from your home was a bit much”.

Thinking about it she was angry. The castle was her home and he just took it away from her. He had no right to do that. All because she had refused to partake in his game of flattery she had been banished. Watching her sisters grovel for affection made her sick. How could he not see how her worth?.

“Heh”

She laughed quietly to herself. Wasn’t that the exact same thing they had done when they moved. They cleared a whole village to make room for their kingdom. Even with the villages protests they did it believing it was for the “greater good”. Again she began to feel guilty how could she worry and complain about her own problems when there were hundreds facing a similar fate. She had seen the villages her kingdom governed and they were in ruin dying of disease and starving while they lived in luxury.

“Helen”
“Yes princess” she replied in a mocking tone
“Im sorry”
“Huh? Whatever for?”
“For the mistreatment of your people we were wrong to think of ourselves as better than you, we had no right to force you off your land”
“Hahahahahhahahahahah” Helens laugh took her by surprise
“Whatever are you laughing at?”
“Look its sweet that your sorry but it doesn’t help me or anyone else. What we need is change a simple apology is not enough to make amends for the wrongs your kingdom has done us”

Looking at Helen now she seemed like an entirely different person. In the castle she had always taken pity on her thinking she was but a simple hand maiden and although she was always kind to her she still felt that she was superior to her. But looking at her now she seemed like a completely different person. She was intelligent and strong willed although she was much different to herself and those of the royal family she was in her own way beautiful with tanned skin and dark hair almost opposite to her fair hair and skin for the first time she felt inferior in the presence of her once hand maiden.

“Your right” she finally managed out
“What do you mean?”
“Saying sorry doesn’t mean anything if action isn’t taken to change”
“So?”
“So I’m going to change how the villages are treated to make up for what’s happened to them”
“And how do you plan to do that? You’re no longer the princess”

She hadn’t thought of that but it was true she was no longer the princess. Then as fast as her hopes of fixing things had come they faded. If either Goneril or Regan were to have control of the throne there would be no hope of redemption. While she was able to see the error of her ways they would not.

“I could try finding some friends to support my cause”

There was the king of France who still wished her hand in marriage even after her inheritance was taken away from her.

“I could marry the king of France he seems to a good man”
“You’re serious about this? Look your sweet girl but I think this is beyond you”

Her words though well-meaning felt harsh. Things had changed so much in such a small amount of time now she was the one looking down her. But that didn’t matter anymore she had a job to do.

“Were leaving”

The grin on Helens face felt reassuring. Yes I think together we could do this she told herself.

Together they rushed towards the castle.

“When we get there you will have to act as my hand maiden again. We do not want the king of France to reject our company”

She watched as Helens faced turned to disgust

“What is the matter?”
“I thought you were different you know. Sorry that I might embarrass you in front of the king”
“You know it’s not like that. We need to go about this smartly or we risk losing everything”
“Yes your majesty”

Her mocking tone showed she did not trust her words. She had never seen Helen like this it was not like her to openly defy her in this way. Why was she so angry? She thought to herself. She had always been good to her hadn’t she? And lately they had grown even closer.

“Oh look there he is your husband to be”

Her tone was starting to get to her but what right did she have to scold her? Even she had only suffered for a few hours of what she had been facing her entire life. As the castle drew closer and closer she felt a longing for home. So much so she was starting to consider throwing herself at her father’s feet and begging for forgiveness.

She couldn’t understand why she felt this way. She had always been so strong and sure of herself now she was considering becoming like her sisters just to be welcomed home. This is how Helen must have felt when she returned to the castle begging for refuge. Looking at her it was hard to imagine that she would give up her pride just for a taste of home. She had truly lost herself at that moment and if she wasn’t careful the same could happen to her.

As they came closer to the city they saw the flags of the French kingdom in the distance that Helen had mentioned. They were in luck they had already left and they would be able to see them without having to return to the kingdom. As they approached the king himself exited his carriage to greet them.

“Cordelia my dear we searched entire kingdom for you we thought you had run away”
“I did but I realised the my error and have returned to become your bride. That is if you’ll have me”
“Why of course my dear we can start a new life in France and leave these troubles behind”
“That sounds wonderful but first I have a request to m….”
“Who is this?” the king interrupted
“This is Helen she is handmaiden”
“Leave her here you will have a fine staff to wait on you in France”
“But with all due respect she is more than just a hand maiden she is also my friend”
“I’m sorry but we have no space for her”

Again she felt lost she thought the king of France would be different he had seemed like a kind man but now she saw he was just like the rest of them.. Just like the rest of us. What was she to do. If he refused him now it he would most likely turn her away for good. But would she be able to live with herself if she turned her back on her people and on Helen. But why was it her duty to save them all anyway? There was no guarantee that she would be even able to accomplish her dream.

“Well be gone with you” the king demanded of Helen.

Helen looked towards her desperately her gaze the same as when she had begged to stay within the kingdom. Unable to explain herself to Helen she turned away from her.

“I knew you no different. You’re the same as your father and even more like your sisters”
“Be gone with you” he repeated.

She spat at her and walked away.

“It’s good you parted ways with her she’s nothing but trouble”
“Wait” her voice surprising even her
“What?” Helen replied her voice filled with disgust

She turned to the king

“Your majesty Helen is more than just a handmaiden to me she is also my friend. Our people have wronged her greatly and I have brought it upon myself to change this and bring a about a better future for them. If you will not allow her to come and are unwilling to help me in my mission than I will have to refuse your marriage proposal”

Helen looked at her in shock. She slowly gazed up to meet the kings rage when she was surprised to find that he was in fact smiling.

“You know it was your courage to face up to your father and deny his game of love that attracted me to you in the first place. Your defiance now only makes me want you even more so”
“Lady Cordelia, lady Helen would you please accompany me we have much to discuss if we want to save your people”.

Excitedly they both rushed to thank the king and entered his carriage. They discussed what needed to be done and the King seemed happy to assist the both of them as the night came and they slowly drifted to sleep Helen called over to her.

“Cordelia why did you do it? You could have lost everything”
Smiling she answered back
“If I gave up who I am than ive truly lost everything”

she gave a knowing smile and went to bed

“A lot needs to be before things can be made right again but at least this is a start”

The End