ACT ONE, SCENE ONE KING LEAR It is said by Lear that it would have been better if Cordelia ˇ§hadst not been born than not tˇ¦have pleased me betterˇ¨, but France supports her by referring to her as ˇ§Fairest Cordeliaˇ¨ to put her into a better light. As France is portrayed as a ˇ§true gentlemanˇ¨ his views and opinions are respected more by the audience than Learˇ¦s, because Lear appears to the viewers as an egotistical and cruel man. Therefore, when France describes Cordelia as being ˇ§richˇ¨ but ˇ§poorˇ¨, ˇ§Most choiceˇ¨ yet ˇ§forsakenˇ¨ and ˇ§most lovedˇ¨ though ˇ§despised!ˇ¨ the audience sees a major contrast through