Ultimate king lear Quotes Leaving Cert

Which of you shall we say doth love us most? King Lear to daughters, beginning the ridiculous ‘love test’
Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty According to my bond; no more nor less Cordelia to King lear, professing her love for her father
Let it be so. Thy truth then be thy dower King Lear to Cordelia, rejecting her honesty
by the sacred radiance of the sun… Here I disclaim all my paternal care King Lear to Cordelia, taking away dowry
‘Tis the infirmity of his age. Yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself Regan to Goneril, about their father
The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash Goneril to Regan
Through tattered clothes, great vices do appear. Robes and furred gowns hide all King Lear to Edgar and Gloucester – (the rich avoid justice while the poor are always punished for any wrongdoing, evidence of Lear’s growing social conscience and awareness)
Why bastard? Wherefore base? Edmund soliloquy contemplating his baseness. “why bastard…” We almost have a grudging admiration for Edmund’s determination to defy society and rise above the lowly circumstances of his birth
Which of them shall I take?…Neither can be enjoyed. If both remain alive. He acts mercilessly as he stages Edgar’s betrayal of Gloucester, betrays his father and leaves him to be tortured and seduces Goneril and Regan, solely for the purpose of manipulation. Edmund to himself (plotting potential murder of father and brother)
The younger rises when the old doth fall Edmund to himself (young replacing old)
Put on what weary negligence you please Goneril to Oswald, asking to treat Lear with little respect. She encourages the servant to openly neglect lear, ensuring he understands that he is unwanted
there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged The reader’s sympathy towards Edmund is fuelled as Gloucester speaks of him and his mother is derogatory terms. (From a modern day perspective, the concept of illegitimacy appears contrived. All the same, it wasn’t becoming for a man of Gloucester’s status to introduce his illegitimate son in court. Gloucester makes hurtful comments towards his illegitimate son, thus failing in his duty as a parent and setting him up to be a callous unempathetic person, not unlike Goneril and Regan)
I have so often blushed to acknowledge him that now I am brazed to it While Gloucester claims that Edgar is no dearer, he surely wouldn’t be embarrassed of him (Gloucester about Edmund)
Edmund the base shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper. Deprived, neglected and abused, Edmund grows into a Machiavellian villain. Nobody will stand for him, so he learns to fend for himself with no regard for anyone around him
Now, gods, stand up for bastards! Edmund urges the gods to sympathise with him
my state stands on me to defend, not to debate To Edmund people’s lives are for his social climbing or enjoyment. His lack of empathy leads him to be a man of action rather than just words
This is the excellent foppery of the world Edmund is a far more interesting character than the other villains such as Goneril, Regan and Cornwall. We see his development and his thought process much clearer. The repetitive reference to Edmund as bastard is more than acknowledging the circumstances of his birth: it is emphasising Edmund’s character. Furthermore, it hints at causality. Having been treated as inferior all his life, he laughs at the morals and feelings of other people. Edmund says that most of us are rationalising fools. When we mess up or are deliberately vicious, we usually blame someone else instead of taking responsibility
Yet Edmund was beloved Edmund’s comment on seeing the dead bodies of Goneril and Regan reveals that his world really and truly revolves around him alone. Furthermore, it casts a shadow on the otherwise morally-sound Gloucester. It was through his abuse that Gloucester allowed Edmund to grow up into a cold hearted villain.
The wheel is turned full circle. I am here. Edmund later admits that fortune has turned on him and he is now back where he started. His presence of insight contrasts with Lear’s lack thereof. Edmund and Lear are both entitled narcissistic characters, yet Edmund has so much more presence of mind
Some good I mean to do, despite of my own nature Edmund tries to atone for his evil actions by trying to rescind his order to execute Cordelia and Lear. It isn’t just an impulsive decision or one aimed at achieving his own ends this time. He has insight into how this conflicts with the rest of his action. It is hard to explain why Edmund acts this way. Perhaps this change of heart is inspired by the experience of being loved. Perhaps it is the position of power that allows him to act magnanimously and openly. Shakespeare tragedies inevitably leave the reader with the message that much horror could have been avoided had people been kinder towards each other. At least some villains aren’t born: they are made.
He always loved our sister most Goneril and Regan aren’t entirely villainous characters either. Indeed, like Edmund, they were the less loved children.
You see how full of changes his age is Goneril and Regan appear to show genuine concern over Lear’s mental state after his disowning of Cordelia
time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides, I know you what you are Cordelia appears to see right through her two sisters (beginning of the play)(She is banished by Lear and says this to her sisters: It won’t be long before your true intentions are revealed. I wish you all the best. If you like this quote, you can use it in essays regarding honesty, honour, loyalty, appearance vs reality, etc.) Cordelia believes that the true nature of her sisters will become apparent in time. She is shrewd and sharp-witted and sees her sisters for their true selves “I know you -“
His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us on every trifle Lear and his knights seem to have created havoc in Goneril’s house
I’ll receive him gladly, but not one follower Regan rationalises to herself as she throws Lear out into the storm. She knows that Lear is a proud man and won’t stay. However, this way she absolves herself of any responsibility.
hang him instantly Regan is far clearer on her intentions with regards to Gloucester:
I must change names at home, and give the distaff into my husband’s hands Goneril gets involved with Edmund and plans on getting rid of her husband, violently, we can only assume
May all the building in my fancy pluck upon my hateful life Goneril is far from happy that her sister is a widow. Ultimately, this unhappiness culminates in Goneril villainously poisoning her sister and committing suicide
high status men, have both evil and good children, they contribute to the badness of their evil children, failing in their paternal duty. They fail to see who is good and who is evil. They banish the wrong one. They themselves are banished and incapacitated. Only once this happens do they recognise their mistakes. They reunite with their good children and reconcile. They both die Lear and Gloucester similarities
everything: their status, their families, their health and then their lives what do lear and Gloucester lose
Love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide; in cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the bond cracked ‘twixt son and father Gloucester prophetically states: (this will be his fate and Lear’s)
be gone without our grace Lear let his loving daughter down by buying into the flattery of his eldest daughters, hungry for power and land. He disowned her and couldn’t wait for her to leave his sight:
He always loved our sister most While he isn’t malevolent, it is hard to imagine King Lear as a fair and loving father
I love your Majesty according to my bond; no more nor less Cordelia remains loyal to Lear much like Edgar remains loyal to Gloucester. However, she lacks Edgar’s magnanimity towards her father’s flaws as she refuses to assure him of her love:
– Because Lear is the central character of the play, he has many more characters surrounding him and exposing his strengths and weaknesses, such as the Fool and Kent. We don’t get as deep an analysis of Gloucester’s personality
to wilful men the injuries that they themselves procure must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors Similarly, Lear’s daughters shut the doors on him and let him out into the storm with righteousness:
thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown, when thou gavest thy golden one away Fool criticises lear for senselessly giving away his kingdom
Reason in madness! There is bitter irony in this plot twist: both abandoned parents gained a better understanding of their circumstances and saw the true nature of their children through insanity and blindness. Edgar:
We two alone will sing like birds I’th’cage Lear and Cordelia make peace
Summary of Gloucester and Lear (ending) In effect, Lear and Gloucester are punished for their arrogance and the poverty of their relationships with some of their children. The similarities of the two story lines emphasise the importance and fragility of father-child relationships
morally blind both Gloucester and Lear are gullible, rash and _____
glib and oily Lear falls victim to the “_______ ____ _____” of Goneril and Regan
Unnatural, detested, brutish villain! When it is ‘revealed’ to Gloucester of Edmunds “treachery”
…of my land, loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means to make thee capable Gloucester disinherits Edgar, promising Edmund that he should inherit his land
a miracle, preserved his life Edgar exploits his father gullibility for a worthy cause at the sea cliffs in Dover. He convinces him that he has survived through “_ ____” and that the gods have “_____” his life
let me beseech your grace, not to do so Gloucester protests against Kent being placed in the stocks to Cornwall (highlights Gloucesters sense of justice and fundamental decency)
I am sorry for thee, friend Gloucester sympathises with the stocked Kent – his finer qualities are again seen
the king, my old master, must be relieved Gloucester’s noble nature evident in his determination to go to Lear’s assistance, even at the risk of his own life
how manifold and strong a bond the child was bound to the father Edmund hypocritically claims to have told Edgar “how manifold and strong…”
I stumbled when I saw… the irony of simultaneously losing his physical sight and acquiring moral vision is not lost on Gloucester (In striking contrast to Lear’s gradual acquisition of insight, Gloucester’s attainment of understanding is sudden and dramatic)
in boy, go first Lear expresses concern for the fool, even in his own suffering, by ushering the him into the hovel ahead of him
thy comforts can do me no good at all; thee they may hurt Gloucester expresses his concern for the old man who has been hiding him since he was thrown out at the gates of his own castle
O, I have taken too little care of this Lear acquires social conscience when he realises he neglected the ‘poor naked wretches’ on the moor when he was in power (they do not have adequate shelter from the storm)
distribution should do undo excess and each man have enough Gloucester argues for a more equitable distribution of wealth so that:
the superfluous and lust-dieted man… that will not see because he doth not feel Gloucester, similarly to Lear, comes to see wealth as an obstacle to moral vision; he speaks of:
…his flawed heart… twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, burst similarly Edgar later tells that his father gave him his blessing and died happily after all. (When his father dies, when Edgar finally revealed his true identity to him, they are reconciled)
a man more sinned against than sinning While Lear is a deeply flawed character who is the architect of his own downfall, we ultimately see him as “a man…”
Pelican daughters animalistic imagery: Lear refers to Goneril and Regan, ghastly offspring, who pain him to the point of insanity as:
which of you shall we say doth love us most Ridiculously shallow ‘Love test’ underscores Lear’s foolishness “which of you shall…”
Here I disclaim all my paternal care, propinquity and property of love Cordelia is disowned and disinherited for refusing to pander to Lear’s ego “Here I disclaim…”
hideous rashness, evil Kent is banished for bluntly telling Lear to reverse his “hideous ____” and for describing his treatment of Cordelia as “____”
Pray you sister, let us sit together Goneril and Reagan’s mistreatment of Lear is coldly pre-meditated. They conspire to strip Lear of his remaining power and dignity: “Pray you sister, -“
are you our daughter? Lear is profoundly shocked by the disrespect shown by Goneril’s servant, Oswald, and then by Goneril herself “are you ___ _____?” He is stunned to find himself treated, not as an all-powerful king, but as an irritating old man
I am ashamed that thou hast power to shake my manhood thus Lear is pained by his sense of powerlessness, brought upon him partly because of his daughters
They could not, would not do it Lear is unable to believe that his daughter has thrown Kent in the stocks, a constituting as a deliberate public show of disrespect towards Lear
What need one? stripped of last his remaining power and dignity when G & R refuse to allow him a single knight
… this heart shall break into a hundred thousand flaws, or ere I’ll weep Lear begs the gods to not let him break down completely in the presence of his daughters (Due to G&R heartless behaviour)
Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts? The old king is particularly pathetic figure in the mock trial scene as he struggles to comprehend his daughter’s unnatural behaviour
my tears begin to take his part so much, they’ll mar my counterfeiting The audience becomes deeply moved by Lear’s anguish during the Mock trial (Act 3, scene 6) “my tears…”
Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little King Lear pleads with Cordelia’s lifeless body to live & stay longer… (impossible not to feel profoundly sympathetic towards Lear) By the closing scene, we feel that lear has paid an inordinately high price for his personal failings.
– We admire Lear for growing through suffering. His pain has a humanising, enabling effect, and he consequently ends the play a better, wiser, more humble man.
I am very foolish, fond old man Lear gradually begins to see himself more clearly “I am a very…”
I have done her wrong Lear begins to recognise his wrongdoing (regarding Cordelia) “I have done…”
if you have poison for me I will drink it Lear is filled with guilt and shame at his mistreatment of Cordelia “if you have poison…”
Pray you now, forgive and forget Lear ultimately acquires humility, begging for Cordelia’s forgiveness (pray you…)
like a dog Lear comes to see others in a clear light, for what they really are, recognising that G & R flattered him “Like a ___”
– The remarkable loyalty of such characters as Kent, the fool and Gloucester reminds us of an earlier, greater lear.
My master calls me, I must not say no Kent returns in disguise to serve the King who banished him. His loyalty to Lear is total. His loyalty is such that that he is even prepared to follow him into the next world: “My master calls…”
Ending of a Lear as an essentially sympathetic character In conclusion, Lear displays no redeeming features in the dramatic opening scene. His harsh and foolish behaviour inevitably alienates the audience. However, Shakespeare ensures that we ultimately sympathise with Lear by powerfully evoking his intense personal suffering. We realise that Lear is the author of his own demise, but ultimately we see him as more of a victim than villain. We also come to admire him Lear for his acquisition of wisdom, self-awareness and humility
The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash Through Goneril we learn that Lear has always been a fiery character (beginning) “The best and soundest…”
Come not between the dragon and his wrath Lear is outraged by Kent’s intervention (regarding Lear’s treatment of Cordelia) “Come not between…”
hath ever but slenderly known himself Regan remarks (to G) that Lear, who lacks in self-knowledge, ‘hath ever but slenderly…’
– Lear’s transformation, his personal growth throughout the play, is all the more credible because it is not a simple process
marble-hearted Lear takes his first painful steps on the path to self-knowledge when he is stung by Goneril’s ‘marble-____’ ingratitude
insolent retinue Goneril’s servants treat Lear with thinly-disguised contempt, while G herself expresses her impatience with his “insolent ____” (bad-mannered followers)
Does any here know me? This is not Lear… Who Is it can tell me who I am? After general’s foul treatment of Lear, and Oswald’s thinly-disguised contempt, Lear has trouble recognising himself “Does any here know me? This…”
Sharper than a serpents tooth Lear’s self image is shaken by Goneril’s display of filial ingratitude, which Lear describes as being “sharper than…”
Beat at this gate that let thy folly in and thy dear judgement out Lear painfully acknowledges his foolishness and lack of judgement “Beat at this gate…”
Into her womb convey sterility Lear, though he has gained a degree of self-knowledge, displays the ever existing rashness that caused so much harm in the first scene.He curses Goneril in the strongest terms imaginable “Into her womb…”
O let me not be mad, not mad sweet heaven Lear greatly struggles to keep his sanity (Act one, scene 5) outside Goneril’s palace. The king is clearly frightened and apprehensive for his future, although he continues to hope that Regan can be counted upon to provide him with sanctuary. We pity Lear as he senses his growing lack of control (despair) “O let me…”
O how this mother (disease) swells up toward my heart! Stung by the public insult (Upon arriving to Regan’s castle he is horrified to find that Kent has been thrown in the stocks) Lear senses the madness rising up within him “oh how this mother…”
I pray you father, being weak, seem so Regan coldly reminds lear of his powerlessness in a striking callous remark “I pray you…”
the terrors of the earth When his daughters refuse to allow Lear to keep even a single knight, Lear rants powerlessly threatening them with the “the terrors of…”
a poor old man as full of grief as age Lear continues to grow through suffering, showing signs of self-knowledge when he describes himself as ‘a poor old man as…’
O fool, I shall go mad! Lear recognises his journey into insanity, telling the fool “O fool, I shall…”
all power of his wits have given way to his impatience In the storm scene Lear’s suffering is so intense that he finally loses his sanity. Kent tells us that ‘all power of his wits…’
a poor, infirm, weak and despised old man the positive aspect of Lear’s torment is that he paradoxically acquires ‘reason in madness’ Lear sees himself for what he is, ‘a poor, infirm, weak…”
a poor bare forked animal we see further evidence of Lear’s new-found wisdom when he sees Poor Tom as an example of the reality of humankind: ‘a poor ____ ____ animal’
And thou all-shaking thunder, strike flat the thick rotundity of the world it must be noted that even as Lear gradually grows and learns, he continues to display some of his old failings. This fact makes his personal transformation more realistic. He doesn’t change suddenly or completely. On the heath, Lear cries out for universal destruction because of his own intense suffering: ‘And thou all-shaking thunder, strike…”. this is a reminder of Lear’s ego-centric nature. He views everything in terms of his own experience…
will not give me leave to ponder on things would hurt me more the pain of lear’s daughters’ filial ingratitude is so intense that Lear almost welcomes the storm as a distraction he reflects that it “will not give me leave..”
When I do stare, see how the subject quakes During the mock trial, the uneven nature of Lear’s development is highlighted when he arrogantly declares “When I do stare, see…”
a man may see how this world goes with no eyes example of what Edgar describes as lea’s ‘reason in madness’: Lear wisely tells Gloucester that ‘a man may see…’
burning shame Lear’s sense of ‘burning ____’ prevents his from rushing to Cordelia
howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones closing scene brings unbearable anguish to Lear when he carries Cordelia’s lifeless body onto the stage “howl…”
– While lear’s personal transformation may not be total, it is certainly dramatic. We cannot but feel admiration for a man who acquires wisdom through suffering. He ends the play a better and wiser man
– Lear is a true tragic hero. As the play opens he is a king with all the power and prestige that accompany this position.. A tragic hero possesses a major flaw which brings about catastrophe. Lear’s tragic flaw is his rashness. As a tragic hero, Lear should retain our sympathy to some degree, and as the play unfolds, we feel both pity and admiration for him
Every inch a king The play opens with a Lear who is tyrannical and a figure of immense power and authority “every inch a ___”
impulsive, impetuous synonyms for rash: 2 (impu, impe)
I am bound upon a wheel of fire that mine own tears do scald like molten lead images of a wheel of fire “I am bound…” and the rack (used by Kent in the closing scene) underline the intensity of lear’s suffering
… The happiness that lear had anticipated following his reconciliation with Cordelia is cruelly snatched from him “why should a dog, a horse…”
all’s cheerless, dark and deadly The ending of the play is particularly bleak. Kent says “all’s cheerless, dark…”
Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain! Without ever affording Edgar the opportunity to defend himself (character and reputation), Gloucester immediately condemns him “Adhorred villain! Unnatural, …”
repair those violent harms, restoration hang thy medicine on my lips Cordelia hopes that her love will ‘repair those ___ ___’ done to Lear by G&R – “restoration hang thy medicine…”
I love you more than words can wield the matter, dearer man eye-sight, space and liberty goneril is, from the beginning, transparently false. Insincerity drips from her words of flattery when she tells lear “I love you more than words…”
pray you let us hit together CONSPIRING SISTERS: Pray you, let us ___ together
I’ll write straight to my sister to hold my very course Goneril sends a message to Regan, telling her to treat Lear as she has done: “I’ll write straight to…”
pluck out his eyes! Goneril wants immediate revenge on Gloucester when she discovers that he has been assisting Lear “Pluck out ___ ____”
– Regan, like her sister, has no qualms in using the ‘glib and oily art’ of flattery to ingratiate herself with Lear before the Kingdom is divided
all night too We see Regan’s cruelty when she insists that Kent be kept in this stocks all day and “all ___ _____”
– Regan is the epitome of filial ingratitude
hang him instantly Like goneril, Regan is cruel and vengeful, looking to punish Gloucester when it becomes know that he has helped lear “hang him ___”. The depth of R’s savagery is inconceivable
– baffling, incomprehensible, inconceivable, beyond belief, astonishing
the other too r demands that Gloucester’s second eye be cut from his head too “the other ____”
smell his way to Dover Regan heartlessly throws the blind Gloucester out of his own castle, declaring that he can “smell his -“
tigers, not daughters animal imagery underscores the Goneril and vegans inhuman cruelty. “Pelican daughters”, “tigers, __ ___”, “monster’s of the deep”
to both these sisters have I sworn my love, each jealous of the other as the stung are of the adder Edmund deceives both G&R into believing that he loves them in order to achieve his own ends, cynically delighting his own cleverness “to both these sisters…”
– Edmund plans to use Albany to help him defeat the French, before general arranges her husbands ‘speedy taking off’ after the battle is won. Edmund then orders the execution of Lear and Cordelia because he sees them as potential threats to his ambition to achieve absolute power
Cornwall who orders Kent to the stocks?
refusing Cornwall and Regan belittle Lear by ___ to meet him when he first arrives at Gloucester’s castle
my lady’s master Oswald treats lear with visible disrespect, he addresses him as ‘my -‘
– While evil is present in every Shakespearian tragedy, it is depicted in a particularly frightening and vivd manner in King Lear
one-dimensional the central character in the play ‘King Lear’ tend towards extremes of good or evil and consequently may seem ___-_____ and lacking in credibility
…she shook the holy water from her heavenly eyes as the personification of goodness and virtue, Cordelia cannot but be respected and admired. However, she is too perfect to excite our interest, being depicted as an almost saintly figure “… she shook the holy…”
– Edgar is admirable but not particularly interesting because he is too good to be believable
– Goneril is the more dominant of the two sisters. She initiates most of the evil schemes against lear, humiliating her father in a CALCULATED, cold-blooded manner
– Goneril does not hesitate to undertake any act of evil, no matter how appalling. We see her complete lack of of conscience when she plans the death of her husband and poisons her sister. At no point does Goneril display even a HINT of CONSCIENCE. she is truly a hideous human whose capacity for evil both appals and fascinates. When her villainy is revealed and all is lost, she does not hesitate to take her own life
and in good time you gave it when Lear pathetically points out that he gave his daughters ‘all’, Regan contemptuously replies coldly: ‘And in good-“
amoral Edmund is an a______ character
the wheel is come full circle Edmund is a more credible character than G or R because he is not one-dimensional and displays redeeming features in the closing scene ‘The wheel…’
all three now marry in an instant We admire his philosophical attitude and lack of self-pity. He also makes a belated effort to do some good by revealing that Lear and Cordelia are to be executed. The grim satisfaction that he takes in the thought of having been loved by two sisters is another indication of his humanity. The irony that in death ‘all three now marry-‘ is not lost on Edmund, who remains sharp-witted to the end
believable, depth in conclusion, the evil characters in ‘King Lear’ are much more interesting than their mortal opposites. The good characters are simply too perfect to be entirely ______. Furthermore, the evil characters fascinate us with the almost unbelievable ___ of their cruelty.
Unnatural and bemadding sorrow one of Kent’s most important dramatic functions is to maintain the link between Lear and Cordelia. Kent has kept Cordelia informed of lear’s plight and shares her determination to set the wrongs done to the king. After Cordelia lands in England, Kent sends a message to Dover to inform her of Lear’s ‘unnatural and _____ sorrow’. Kent keeps Cordelia in the minds of the audience during her absence
my life I never held but as a pawn to wage against thine enemies Kent is the epitome of fidelity. He is represented having an absolute and unwavering allegiance to Lear. It is no exaggeration that Kent lives for lear: ‘My life I never held – ‘
– Kent’s selfless loyalty is inspiring, while his fundamental goodness helps to counterbalance the evil in the play. Kent’s loyalty to Lear reminds us that Lear was not always the rash and foolish figure we are introduced to in the opening scene. His extraordinary fidelity to the king strongly suggests to us that there was an earlier, greater Lear who inspired such loyalty in the wise and noble Kent
I am almost ready to dissolve hearing of this Albany is deeply moved by displays many qualities required of a good and strong leader. He is compassionate and sensitive. He is deeply moved by Edgar’s account of Gloucester’s suffering and death. ‘I am almost ready…’
All friends shall taste the wages of their virtue, and all foes the cup of their deservings, the gored state Albany only shows sympathy towards those deserving of it. He barely reacts to news of his wife’s death, seeing Goneril’s demise as an act of divine justice. At the close of the play, Albany promises that justice will be done in the kingdom “all friends shall taste the wages…”Along with Edgar, Albany will play an important role in restoring the health of ‘the _____ state’ and in reinstating natural order
gilded serpent Albany calls Goneril the ‘___ serpent’ when arresting her
She’s desperate; govern her Albany is sufficiently perceptive to realise that Goneril may attempt to commit suicide ‘She’s…’
– Madness is one of the central themes of the play King Lear. Madness, in its various forms, is a theme that relates to Lear, Edgar and the Fool
sharp wit The fool is regarded as mad but his idiotic antics conceal a ___ ___. While he is not entirely sane, he is certainly wise and commonsensical
beggar Edgar is forced by his brother’s treachery to adopt the disguise of a mad Bedlam _____ in order to avoid arrest.
6 Act 3, scene ___: The Mock Trial brings the three ‘madmen’ together as Lear imagines putting his ungrateful daughters on trial. *In this scene, we see Lear’s genuine insanity, Edgar’s feigned madness and the fool’s half-foolish jests
the mystery of things Lear’s personal redemption is complete when he is reconciled with Cordelia. When he is arrested, the increasingly philosophical king only wishes for himself and Cordelia to be together so that they can ponder the meaning of life: ‘the mystery -‘
– Lear’s intense suffering and madness has a positive dimension. Lear’s acquisition of ‘reason in madness’ enables him to see himself, others and the world in general more clearly
a bitter fool The fool is able to speak his mind to Lear PRECISELY because he is regarded as a mad man Lear refers to the Fool as ‘a ___ fool’ because he speaks the _____ truth. The Fool constantly reminds Lear of his foolishness and wrongdoing, sometimes disguising his philosophical utterances with nonsense songs
CONCLUDING POINT ON MADNESS The play presents us with three very different kinds of ‘madness’. Lear’s is in response to his daughters treatment and Edgar’s is a CHOICE. However, in both cases madness, real or feigned, is the result of the natural bonds (that should bind families together) being broken. As an ‘official’ madman, the Fool fulfils a traditional role in the royal court. However, the fool’s unofficial role as lear’s conscience is more important (he helps lear becomes more self aware)
decent Gloucester is flawed but essentially a d______ character
I am sure my love’s more richer than my tongue Cordelia’s love for her father is genuine ‘I am sure my…’
serviceable villain Edgar us a man of action. When Oswald nervously raises his sword against Gloucester, Edgar confronts this “serviceable _____” and kills him
Why is the fool introduced The fool is introduced into the play for the purpose of providing a little levity and relieving the tension of the drama
thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise the fool, in an effort to make Lear aware of his wrongdoings and shortcomings, says ‘thou shouldst not have…’
we must do something and in the heat Goneril, urging Regan to act against Lear as quickly as possible, ‘we must do something -‘
old fools are babes again When Goneril witnesses Lear’s behaviour in her castle, she remarks that ‘old fools are…’
July 1, 2019