Lear's primary flaw at the opening of the play is that he values face-on values above reality. He wants to be treated as a king and to enjoy the title, but he doesn't want to fulfill a king's responsibility of governing for the good of his subjects. Also, his test of his daughters validates that he values a flattering public display of love over real love. He doesn't ask "which of you doth love us …showed first 75 words of 665 total…

…showed last 75 words of 665 total…e attempting to hide the hurt and embarrassed old man within. Lear's decree to banish Cordelia and Kent, a faithful servant who merely seeks to mend the situation by pointing out the "old man's hideous rashness," is extremely disproportionate to the crimes committed against him. Love, honour and obedience seem worthless to the king who condemns two of the people most loyal to him in the entire kingdom due to an audacious and reckless nature.