cordelia could be so interesting if y'all would stop playing her as self-righteous
when she’s self righteous, from a modern viewer it’s almost impossible not to look at her sisters who’re doing their best to get their father to not be a dick, and think of Cordelia as a dick. After all, why would she look down on her sisters for trying her best?
But if she genuinely could not force her heart into her throat, find the words to hyperbolize how much she loves her father, then she reads less as a rude characters, and more a distraught one. She’s not looking down on her sisters for their lies, she’s unable to understand them. Yes, she’s disowned, but he’d resent them regardless, why lie when it’ll only bring more trouble to them?
It’s less of a condescension and more of a genuine warning. Less ‘You better your money where your mouth is’ and 'You will have to deal with him from now on, when I know your words weren’t exactly true. If he did this to me, be careful for what he’ll do to you.’
THIS!!