King Lear – Act 1 quotes

“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
July 11, 2019