| “That future strife may be prevented now.” – Lear | Lear wishes to avoid trouble in the future by dividing his kingdom between his three daughters |
| “Which of you shall we say doth love us most.” – Lear | Into into the Love Test |
| “Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty;Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare.” – Goneril | Goneril expresses her love to her father in the Love Test |
| “I am made of that self metal as my sister,And prize me at her worth. In my true heartI find she names my very deed of love;Only she comes too short.” – Regan | Regan expresses her love to her father and says she loves him more than Goneril does. |
| “Nothing will come of nothing.” – Lear | Lear says to Cordelia if she does not proclaim her love, she will receive nothing. |
| “My heart into my mouth: I love your majestyAccording to my bond; nor more nor less.” – Cordelia | Cordelia says she loves Lear because he is her father |
| “Here I disclaim all my paternal care.” – Lear | Lear disowns his youngest daughter Cordelia |
| “Only we shall retain the name and all th’addition to a king.” – Lear | Lear gives his power to his daughters but wishes to keep the title |
| “This hideous rashness.” – Kent | Kent thinks Lear is acting rash in his decision to disown Cordelia |
| “See better Lear.” – Kent | Kent wishes for Lear to see what he is doing |
| “Better thou hadst not been born than not too have pleas’d me better.” – Lear | Lear is saying to Cordelia that it would have been better if she hadn’t had been born than to displease him as she did |
| ” We must do something and i’ the heat.” – Goneril | Goneril says to Regan that they must act fast in turning against Lear |
| “Why brand they us, with base? with baseness? bastardy, base? base?” – Edmund | Edmund is questioning why he has to be the lowest in society |
| “Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land.” – Edmund | Edmund plans to take his half-brothers inheritance |
| “Now gods, stand up for bastards.” – Edmund | Edmund asks for the gods to be on his side |
| “Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain! worse than brutish!” – Gloucester | Gloucester thinks his son Edgar has written a letter planning to take all of his money and power |
| “Let me if not by birth, have lands by wit.” – Edmund | Edmund says he will get his inheritance by his cleverness |
| “Old fools are babes again.” – Goneril | Goneril says her old father is like a baby now because he has no power |
| “All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou was born with.” – Fool | The Fool says to Lear that he has given away all his power |
| “I am a fool, thou art nothing.” – Fool | The Fool says that Lear is worse than a fool |
| “Woe, that too late repents.” – Lear | Lear is beginning to regret his actions |
| “Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gavest thy golden one away.” – Fool | The fool is saying that you can’t empty the worth of the crown and still wear it |
| “Detested kite.” – Lear | Lear is calling Goneril a horrible bird because she isn’t treating him with respect |
| “How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!” – Lear | Lear is aware of how badly he treated Cordelia |
| “O Lear, Lear, Lear!Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in.” – Lear | Lear is in agony about his foolishness |
| “She’ll flay thy wolfish visage.” – Lear | Lear is saying Goneril is like a predatory animal |
| “She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab.” – Fool | The Fool warns Lear and says that Regan will act just like her sister |
| “I did her wrong.” – Lear | Lear admits he treated Cordelia badly |
| “O! let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven’Keep me in temper; I would not be mad.” – Lear | Lear pleads as to not go mad, he wishes to stay sane |
King Lear – Act 1 quotes
July 11, 2019