| I thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall | Kent to Gloucester, shows that the King is known to have favourites |
| There was good sport at his making | Gloucester to Kent, making jokes about Edmund’s illegitimacy, perhaps gives an excuse to why Edmund does the things he does |
| This young fellows mother could | Gloucester’s response to Kent’s ‘I cannot conceive you’ |
| I have a son, sir, by order of law…who yet is no dearer in my account | Kent to Gloucester about Edmund, shows he too expresses affection in monetary terms, highlights the contrast between Edmund’s ‘natural’ bond with his father and Edgar’s ‘legal’ bond |
| We shall express our darker purpose | Lear to his court, shows he knows what he’s doing is wrong, uses the royal we – shows he is still powerful at this point and feels in control |
| ’tis our fast intent to shake all cares and business from our age, conferring them on younger strengths, while we unburthened crawl toward death | Lear to his court, announces his intention to give his land to his daughters, describes age in an infantilising way + shows he sees his kingship as a burden |
| What can you say to draw a third more opulent than your sisters? | Lear to Cordelia, telling her to make her speech, shows he’s already decided who is getting the larger portion of land |
| I love you more than word can wield the matter…beyond all manner of so much i love you | The start and end of Goneril’s speech, suggests she has rehearsed it as it starts and ends the same |
| I profess myself an enemy to all other joys which the most precious square of sense possesses | Regan’s speech, uses calculating language |
| Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty, beyond what can be valued rich or rare | In Goneril’s speech, shows how hyperbolic and exaggerated it is, also shows she too values love in monetary terms |
| My love’s more richer than my tongue | Cordelia’s aside, which immediately allies the audience to her, and shows that her love for Lear cannot be expressed with words |
| Nothing, my lord | Cordelia’s famous response to Lear’s demand for flattery |
| I love your majesty according to my bond; nor more nor less | Cordelia to Lear, very matter of fact statement of how much she loves him |
| Mend your speech a little lest it may mar your fortunes | Lear to Cordelia telling her to try again |
| Obey you, love you and most honour you | Cordelia to Lear, telling him how she loves him, sounds almost like wedding vows |
| So young, my lord, and true | Cordelia to Lear, shows her honesty compared to her sisters |
| With my two daughters’ dowers digest this third | Lear telling his court what to do with Cordelia’s dower, uses harsh consonants to sound like he’s spitting with rage |
| I loved her most | How Lear felt about Cordelia |
| Only we still retain the name and all the additions to a king | Lear, shows he’s not prepared to give up the luxuries of being a king, only the responsibilities |
| Royal Lear, whom I have ever honoured as my king, loved as my father, as my master followed… | Kent to Lear, shows Kent’s dedication to the King and perhaps suggests he’s flattering him in a similar way to the way Goneril and Regan were |
| What wouldst thou do old man? | Kent to Lear, shocking insult of age, trying to shock Lear into listening |
| See better Lear | Kent to Lear telling him to have more foresight |
| I know you what you are | Cordelia to her sisters, shows that she knows their wicked ways, refers to them almost as animals |
| For want of that of which I am richer, and such a tongue as I am glad I have not | Cordelia argues back against Lear’s disowning of her, talks of being richer of character by contrast to Lear’s use of monetary terms for love |
King Lear Act 1 scene 1 Quotes
July 30, 2019