Who speaks the following lines and to whom?

“O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o’er me.
No, sir, you must not kneel.”

Correct option is B

Explanation:

The correct answer is Cordelia to Lear.

These lines are spoken by Cordelia to King Lear in Act IV, Scene VII of William Shakespeare’s tragedy King Lear.

After Lear has been rescued from the wilderness and brought to safety in a French camp, Cordelia tenderly addresses him upon his awakening from a state of madness.

When Lear, feeling remorseful for his past actions and overwhelmed by her kindness, attempts to kneel before her, Cordelia gently stops him, expressing both reverence and forgiveness.

This scene is a moment of deep emotional reconciliation and captures the contrast between Cordelia’s selfless love and the betrayal Lear suffered from his other daughters, Goneril and Regan.

Information Booster:

King Lear is one of William Shakespeare’s most profound tragedies, written between 1605 and 1606.

Characters: Cordelia is Lear’s youngest daughter, known for her honesty, integrity, and unwavering love for her father, despite his earlier rejection of her.

The lines are part of the touching reunion between Lear and Cordelia after Lear’s descent into madness and her return from exile with the French army.

The act of kneeling and Cordelia's objection to it symbolize a reversal of roles — Lear, once a powerful king, now seeks forgiveness, and Cordelia, once banished, emerges as the source of moral strength and compassion.

The lines highlight key themes of the play such as filial piety, redemption, forgiveness, humility, and the tragic consequences of pride and misjudgment.

This is one of the most poignant and redemptive moments in the play. It contrasts sharply with the earlier cruelty Lear endures and marks a turning point in his emotional reconciliation with Cordelia.

“Benediction” and “kneel” imply a spiritual and reverent tone, reinforcing the emotional intensity of the reunion.