King Lear Act 3 Key Quotes

Scene 1: Savagery of the storm – what they do when Lear calls on them to ‘bids the wind blow the earth into the sea’ ‘Which the impetuous blasts with eyeless rage catch in their fury and make nothing of’
Scene 2: Lear’s opening line to the storm ‘Blow winds and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow!’
Scene 2: Fool’s description of the storm ‘Good nuncle, in and ask thy daughters blessing. Here’s a night pities neither wise men nor fools’
Scene 2: Lear’s pitiful declarations ‘Here I stand your slave, a poor, infirm, weak and despised old man’
Scene 2: Lear’s refusal to go back to Goneril and Regan ‘No, I will be the pattern of all patience. I will say nothing’
Scene 2: Lear’s declaration of injustice ‘I am a man more sinned against than sinning’
Scene 3: Gloucester’s declaration of loyalty to Lear ‘Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural dealing’
Scene 3: Gloucester explains how much he’s willing to sacrifice for Lear ‘If I die for it – as no less is threatened me – the King my old master must be relieved’
Scene 3: Edmund instantly betrays his father ‘This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the Duke instantly know;
Scene 3: Edmund gains from betraying his father ‘That which my father loses, no less than . The younger rises when the old doth fall’
Scene 4: Kent explains the lengths he’s willing to go to for Lear ‘Wilt break my heart?’ LEAR’I had rather break mine own’ KENT
Scene 4: Lear explains how prominent his madness is ‘this tempest in my mind doth from my senses take all feeling else, save what beats there, filial ingratitude’
Scene 4: Lear’s still arrogant – even in the storm ‘In such a night to shut me out? Pour on, I will endure.’
Scene 4: Lear thinks madness is a choice ‘O, that way madness lies, let me shun that; no more of that’
Scene 4: Lear allows the Fool to enter the Hovel first ‘In boy, go first. You houseless poverty – nay, get thee in’
Scene 4: Lear becomes more aware of the lower classes ‘O, I have ta’en too little care of this. Take physic, pomp, expose thyself to feel what wretches feel’
Scene 4: Edgar believes he’s being followed by the Devil ‘Away, the found fiend follows me”Whom the foul fiend hath led through fire and through flame, through ford and whirlpool, o’er bog and quagmire’
Scene 4: Lear questions how Poor Tom ended up in such a state ‘Nothing could have subdued nature to such a lowness but his unkind daughters’
Scene 4: Lear’s description of his daughters ‘Twas this flesh begot those pelican daughters’
Scene 4: Lear’s descent into madness as he takes off his clothes ‘Thou ow’st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the cat no perfume’
Scene 4: Gloucester finds Lear in the storm and proclaims his loyalty ‘My duty cannot suffer t’obey in all your daughters’ hard commands’
Scene 4: Lear’s reliance on Poor Tom ‘First let me talk with this philosopher”I’ll talk a word with this same learned Theban’
Scene 5: Edmund betrays Gloucester to Cornwall and gives Gloucester’s letter to Cornwall ‘I may be censured that nature thus gives way to loyalty’
Scene 5: Edmund wins Cornwall’s loyalty for betraying his father ‘I will lay trust upon thee and thou shalt find a dear father in my love’
Scene 6: Lear allows Edgar to have power in Goneril’s Mock Trial ‘Thou robed man of justice, take thy place’
Scene 6: Lear begins the trial ’tis Goneril – I here take my oath before this honourable assembly – kicked the poor King her father’
Scene 6: Fool’s description of Goneril in the mock trial ‘Cry you mercy, I took your for a joint stool’
Scene 6: Lear tries Regan ‘And here’s another whose warped looks proclaim what store her heart is made on’
Scene 6: Lear issues a declaration against Regan ‘Then let them anatomize Regan; see what breeds about her heart’
Scene 6: Edgar’s speech about inequality ‘When we our betters see bearing our woes, we scarcely think our miseries our foes”When that which makes me bend makes the King bow, he childed as I fathered’
Scene 7: Regan and Goneril’s punishment on Gloucester ‘Hang him instantly!’ REGAN’Pluck out his eyes!’ GONERIL
Scene 7: Cornwall subverts justice to punish Gloucester ‘Though well we may not pass upon his life without the form of justice, yet our power shall do a courtesy to our wrath’
Scene 7: Gloucester proclaims his injustice ‘Good my friends, consider; you are my guests. Do me no foul play, friends”I am your host; with robber’s hands my hospitable favours you should not ruffle thus’
Scene 7: Cornwall tries to temper Regan’s vicious anger ‘Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril-‘ REGAN’Wherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that’
Scene 7: Gloucester believes judgement will eventually be served ‘I shall see the winged vengeance overtake such children’
Scene 7: Gloucester’s eye is plucked out ‘Give me some help! – O cruel! O you Gods!’
Scene 7: Cornwall’s servant defies him ‘Hold your hand, my lord, I have served you ever since I was a child, but better service…than now to bid you to hold’
Scene 7: Servant fights Cornwall ‘Nay then, come on, and take of anger’
Scene 7: Gloucester discovers – too late – that Edmund betrayed him ‘O my follies! Then Edgar was abused? Kind gods, forgive me that and prosper him’
Scene 7: Cornwall dies ‘Untimely comes this hurt’
Scene 7: Cornwall’s servants help Gloucester ‘Go thou; I’ll fetch some flax and whites of eggs to apply to his bleeding face. Now heaven help him!’
July 14, 2019