King Lear – Kent Quotes

A1.S1 – Kent has the very first line of the play; although arguably a minor character, this stresses his presence in the play “I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall”
A1.S1 – Kent’s morality and respect for Lear’s family is shown through his willingness to sacrifice his position in order to try to save the situation “Reverse thy doom;And in thy best consideration check This hideous rashness.”
A1.S1 – In many ways Kent acts as a detached version of Lear’s past self. Does he tell Lear to act how Lear’s younger self would behave? “See better Lear”
A1.S4 – Kent’s loyalty is proved by his return in disguise; his purpose is to guide Lear no matter his form “Now, banish’d Kent, If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn’d”
A1.S4 – Does Kent disregard the Fool’s form of wisdom? Kent’s advice is plain and straightforward; the fool’s is more decorative and confusing to follow “This is nothing fool”
A2.S2 – Despite Kent’s adoption of a baser form (Caius), he still detests Oswald for his attempts to raise himself above his natural social standing “the son and heir of a mongrel bi*ch”
A2.S2 – Kent can be seen as somewhat of a antagonist for the action in the play; does he engineer Lear being able to see how Regan and Cornwall treat him when they put him in the stocks? Kent could represent the politically minded in the play “Fortune, good night; smile once more, turn thy wheel.”
A2.S2 – Kent’s use of imperatives expose his inner authority; still used to controlling and ordering people “Stand, rogue! Stand, you neat slave! Strike!”
A3.S2 – As Lear’s mind crumbles in the storm, Kent’s disguise becomes less and less important. Linguistically he returns to how he spoke at the beginning of the play. “Gracious my lord, hard by here is a hovel; Some friendship will it lend you ‘gainst the tempest”
A3.S6 – Kent comes across as a guardian-angel type figure that looks after all the characters that remain loyal to Lear “Come, help to bear thy master. Thou must not stay behind.”
A4.S3 – Kent has the penultimate words of the play; once again stressing his importance generally but perhaps more symbolically as a follower, he cannot have the last lines but that is reserved for the future leader of the kingdom, Edgar “I have a journey, sir, shortly to go. My master calls me; I must not say no.”
July 7, 2019