King Lear Important Quotes and Questions Lears Character

King Lear Important Quotes and Questions

Lear’s Character n General reaction to Lear? n Fickle nature n n n Opening lines: “I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall” (Kent). “He always loved our sister most, and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off appears too grossly” (Goneril). Impulsive n Immediately banishes Cordelia and wrecks offers of marriage n n n “Here I disclaim all my paternal care, propinquity, and property of blood, and as a stranger to my heart and me hold thee from this forever” (Lear). “Better thou hadst not been born than not t’ have pleased me better. ” Immediately banishes Kent when he protests n “Kent, on thy life, no more” (Lear).

Lear’s Character n Foolish n “Love Game” – a measure of arrogance? n n “Which of you shall we say doth love us most, that we our largest bounty may extend where nature doth with merit challenge” (Lear). “I love you more than word can wield the matter, dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty…” (Goneril). “I profess myself an enemy to all other joys which the most precious square of sense possesses…” (Regan). Disowns those who loves him most n n “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). n Logic in Cordelia’s argument w/marriage “I loved her most and though to set my rest on her kind nursery” (Lear).

True Love n Gloucester; Edmund and Edgar n n Cordelia; Lear n n n “So young, my lord, and true. ” “Love well our father. To your professed bosoms I commit him; but yet, alas, stood I within his grace, I would prefer him to a better place. ” France; Cordelia n n n “But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account. ” “Love’s not love when it is mingled with regards that stands aloof from th’ entire point. Will you have her? She is herself a dowry. ” “Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor; most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised, thee and they virtues here I seize upon, be it lawful I take up what’s cast away. ” Kent; Lear n n n “Reserve thy state, and in thy best consideration check this hideous rashness. ” “Think’st thou that duty shall have dread to speak when power to flattery bows. ” Proverb: Empty vessels have the loudest sounds = falseness of Goneril & Regan

Motifs n Sight/Lack of Sight n n Goneril: “Dearer than eyesight…” Lear & Kent: “Out of my sight!” “See better, Lear, and let me still remain the true blank of thine eye. ” Cordelia: “The jewels of our father, with washed eyes Cordelia leave you. ” Nothingness n n n Cordelia & Lear: “Nothing, my lord. ” “Nothing? ” “Nothing will come of nothing. ” Kent: “…empty-hearted whose low sounds reverb no hollowness…” Lear leaves Cordelia with “nothing”. n “Nothing. I have sworn. I am firm. ”

The Bastard n Edmund’s soliloquy n Obsession with legitimacy, bastardy and baseness n Use n of repetition Asks for “help” n “Now n gods, stand up for bastards!” Characterization of father and brother Gloucester: “credulous father” n Edgar: “brother noble whose nature is so far from doing harms that he suspects none” n

Motifs Continued n Astrology = God/Fate n Gloucester: “These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us” (1. 2. 109 -110) n n fatalistic – relies on nature to tell him future or give him signs (i. e. horoscope) Edmund: “This is the excellent foppery of the world, that when we are sick in fortune…we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars, as if we were villains on necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance…” (1. 2. 125 -140). n Scoffs at Gloucester ignorance

Theme: Ageism Discrimination based on a person’s age n Goneril and Regan question Lear’s judgment n Blame age: “You see how full of changes his age is”… “’Tis the infirmity of his age…” n “Then must we look from his age to receive not along the imperfections of long-engraffed condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them. ” n

Theme: Ageism n Parallel to Gloucester; subplot n Edgar “plots” to kill Gloucester due to age n “But I have heard him oft maintain it to be fit that, sons at perfect age and fathers declined, the father should be as ward to the song, and the son manage his revenue” (Edgar, 1. 2. 75 -78). n Gloucester is sensitive about the subject

Introduction of the Fool n n n Gone b/c of Cordelia’s banishment n “Since my young lady’s going into France, sir, the Fool hath much pined away” (1. 4. 73 -74) Calls Lear the fool (connection to Feste) – banishment & authority n “Why, this fellow has banished two on ‘s daughters and did the third a blessing against his will. If thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb” (1. 4. 105 -108). n “All thy other titles thou hast given away. That thou wast born with” (1. 4. 153 -154). n “…thou mad’st thy daughters thy mothers. For when thou gav’st them the rod and put’st down thine own breeches” (1. 4. 176 -179). Reveals truth -- flattery n “Truth’s a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when the Lady Brach may stand by th’ fire and stink” (1. 4. 115 -117). n “They’ll have me whipped for speaking true, thou’lt have me whipped for lying, and sometimes I am whipped for

Lear’s Discontent n n Losing his authority n Goneril reprimands him like a child n “Does any here know me? This is not Lear. Does Lear walk thus, speak thus? Where are his eyes? Who is it that can tell me who I am? ” Fool: “Lear’s shadow. ” n Goneril insults Lear’s age n “As you are old and reverend, should be wise. ” n Ticked off at drunken behavior of 100 knights & squires n “riotous inn”, “lust makes it more like a tavern or a brothel” Losing his sanity? ? n “Detested kite, thou liest. ” n Recognition of wrongdoing: “O most small fault, how ugly didst thou in Cordelia show…O Lear, Lear” [he strikes his head] (1. 4. 280 -286). n Curses Goneril to make her sterile (1. 4. 289 -304). n “Old fond eyes, beweep this cause again, I’ll pluck you out and cast you, with the waters that you loose, to temper clay” (1. 4. 316

Marital Bliss? n Albany = mediator; n n n Torn between duty to King and duty (? ) to wife “Pray, sir, be patient” “My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant of what hath moved you…” “I cannot be so partial, Goneril, to the great love I bear you…” “How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell. Striving no better, oft we mar what’s well…” (1. 4. 368 -369). Goneril = instigator n n n A: “Well, you may fear too far. ” G: “Safer than trust too far. ” “No, no, my lord, this milky gentleness and course of yours though I condemn not, yet, under pardon, You are much more at task for want of wisdom than praised for harmful mildness” (1. 4. 363 -367). Balance of roles uncharacteristic of the period

Fool and his Nuncle n n n Blunt about Lear’s mistakes Follows Him wherever his goes (from Goneril’s house to Regan’s house) Lear’s growing madness n n “O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! Keep me in temper. I would not be mad!” (1. 5. 45 -46). Humanizes Lear n n Lear: “I did her wrong” (1. 5. 63). Fool: “Thou shouldst not have been old till though hadst been wise. ”

Motifs Continued n Motif of “nothing” n n n Conversation with Lear and Fool “This is nothing, Fool. ” “You gave me nothing for ‘t. -Can you make no use of nothing nuncle? ” “Nothing can be made out of nothing. ” Natural vs. Unnatural n n n Edmund, the bastard, is the unnatural son Edmund: “Seeing how loathly opposite I stood to his unnatural purpose…” (2. 1. 58 -60). Gloucester: “And of my land, loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means to make thee capable” (2. 1. 97 -98).

Edmund’s Devious Behavior n Stages fight with Edgar n n n Dirty trick: Edmund brings up own bastard status n n Edgar apparently says, “Thou unpossessing bastard, dost thou think if I would stand against thee, would the reposal of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee make thy words faithed? ” Uses Gloucester’s superstitions n n Tells Edgar it’s to protect his own reputation w/G Wounds own arm once Edgar leaves to ensure credibility “Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out, mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon” (2. 1. 42 -44). Result: Gloucester seeks Edgar’s death n “…bringing the murderous coward to the stake; he that conceals him, death. ”

How To Lose A Dad in One Day n Have your brother… n n n n Write a treasonous letter about your desire to kill off Dad, making sure to “hide” the letter from him Seem like the “good guy” by mediating the situation Stage a swordfight defending Dad’s honor (make sure brother wounds himself in the process) Use Dad’s superstition of curses and charms to persuade him that you’re the devil Use reverse psychology on Dad, acknowledging his own “bastardy” GUILT TRIP! Result… n n n You are condemned to death, pursued by your father’s own guards Your brother inherits all your lands and is “hired” by Regan and Cornwall Your father believes you to be the “unnatural son”

Lear’s Diminishing Status n Failure to appeal to Regan n n Actually kneels before her, begging “Dear daughter, I confess that I am old. Age is unnecessary. On my knees I beg that you’ll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food” (2. 4. 174 -176). Does not know own daughters: “Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give thee o’er to harshness. Her eyes are fierce, but thine do comfort and not burn” (2. 4. 193 -197). Situation w/Regan parallels Goneril n n n Double-teaming: “Art not ashamed to look upon this beard? ” [Regan takes Goneril’s hand. ] Regan insists he cut his train in half and return to Goneril The sisters continue to make “cuts”: “What need one? ” n Lear responds: “O, reason not the need! Our basest beggars are in the poorest thing superfluous. Allow not nature more than nature needs, man’s life is cheap as beast’s” (2. 4. 305 -309).

Lear’s Diminishing Status n Curses daughters n “No, you unnatural hags, I will have such revenges on you both that all the world shall – I will do such things – what they are yet I know not, but they shall be the terrors of the earth!” (2. 4. 320 -324). n n n “But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter, or, rather, a disease that’s in my flesh, which I must needs call mine. Thou art a boil, a plague-sort or embossed carbuncle in my corrupted blood” (2. 4. 255260). Cast out into the storm n n Significance of “unnatural” Daughters wants him to “learn a lesson”: (G)“’Tis his own blame hath put himself from rest, and must needs taste his folly. ” (R) “The injuries that they themselves procure must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors. ” Descent into madness n n n Weeps several times: “You think I’ll weep. No, I’ll not weep. I have full cause of weeping, but this heart shall break into a hundred thousand flaws or ere I’ll weep” (2. 4. 325 -328) “O me, my heart, my rising heart! But down!”; “O, how this mother swells up toward my heart! Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing sorrow!” “I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad” (2. 4. 252).

The Storm n Descent into madness continues n n Gentleman’s reaction: King is tearing at white hair, running “unbonneted” in wind and rain, threatening weather; even wolf knows how to keep his fur dry Lear’s displaced rage? n n Anger: “Blow winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow! You’ sulph’rous and thought-executing fires, vaunt-couriers of oak-cleaving thunderbolts, singe my white head…” (3. 2. 1 -11). Forgiveness: “I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness. I never called you children; You owe me no subscription. ” Realization: “Here I stand your slave, a poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man”; “I am a man more sinned against than sinning” (3. 2. 64 -65). Recognition of own madness n “My wits begin to turn” (3. 2. 73).

The Storm n Inner conflict: mad or not mad? n n n Assumption that all beggars are in his position n “This tempest in my mind doth from my senses take all feeling else save what beats there” “No, I will weep no more. [In such a night to shut me out? Pour on. I will endure. ] In such a night as this? O Regan, Goneril, your old kind father whose frank heart gave all!” “O, that way madness lies. Let me shun that; no more of that. ” “Is man no more than this? Consider him well…unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art. Off, off, you lendings!” [tearing off his clothes] “Didst thou give all to thy daughters? ” (to Edgar) “Death, traitor! Nothing could have subdued nature to such a lowness but his unkind daughters. ” (to Kent) Other opinions n n Lear calls Poor Tom a philosopher – a madman? ! Kent to G: “His wits begin t’unsettle”; “Canst thou blame him? ”

The Storm: Other Outcomes n Lear’s growing humanity n n n Political uprising n n Let’s Fool go into hovel first: “Poor Fool and knave, I have on part in my heart that’s sorry yet for thee” (3. 2. 79 -80). Increasing empathy for others (Poor Tom) France has invaded Britain Albany and Cornwall are at odds Kent’s communication with Cordelia (ring) Gloucester’s downfall n n n G is disappointed in Lear’s treatment; Edmund agrees it is “most savage and unnatural” G = heroic; “If I die for it, as no less in threatened me, the King my old master must be relieved” (3. 3. 17 -19). Edmund: “The younger rises when the old doth fall. ”

Confirmation of Madness n Lear puts “Goneril” and “Regan” on trial “I’ll see their trial first. Bring in their evidence” (3. 6. 37). “The little dogs and all…they bark at me. ” n Edgar and the Fool play the roles appropriately; sing in madness n Kent: “O pity! Sir, where is the patience now that you so oft have boasted to retain? ” (3. 6. 61 -62). n Edgar: “My tears begin to take his part so much they mar my counterfeiting” (3. 6. 63 -64). n n So tragic that Edgar frets over his disguise

Confirmation of Madness Lear is carried away (like an invalid) n Edgar’s soliloquy: n n “When we our betters see bearing our woes, we scarecely think our miseries our foes. ” n Selfless; n respects Lear as his “better” “Who alone suffers most i’ th’ mind, leaving free things and happy shows behind. ” n Lear’s madness is confirmed

Disappearance of the Fool n n n Lear: “Make no noise, make no noise. Draw the curtains. So, so, we’ll go to supper i’ th’ morning” (3. 6. 87 -89). Fool: “And I’ll go to bed at noon. ” Hotly debated: What happens to the Fool? ? ? n Fool and Cordelia are the same person n Fool dies n n Dual roles; never appear on stage at the same time Fool reference at the end of the play “bed at noon” could signify his death the next afternoon (weather) Lear becomes the Fool n n Merge characters; Fool’s role no longer necessary Lear imagined the Fool in the heath – not acknowledged by characters others than Edgar (who is acting mad)

Gloucester’s Newfound Sight n Motif: eyesight n Blinded, Gloucester can now see n “I have no way and therefore want no eyes. I stumbled when I saw” (4. 1. 19 -20). n “O dear son Edgar, the food of thy abused father’s wrath, might I but live to see thee in my touch, I’d say I had eyes again” (4. 1. 22 -25).

Fate and Future n Godless society n n n “As flies to wanton boys are we to th’ gods; They kill us for their sport” (4. 1. 40 -41). Has Gloucester learned a lesson? Edgar vs. Gloucester n n Who has it worse? Why doesn’t Edgar reveal himself? n n “I cannot daub it further” (4. 1. 60). Gloucester’s decision n “There is a cliff…From that place I shall no leading need” (4. 1. 83 -88). Brave or cowardly? Edgar decides to lead him there – what would you do?

Marital Bliss Continued… n Albany has changed loyalties n n n “Madam, within, but never man so changed. I told him of the army that was landed; he smiled at it. I told him you were coming; His answer was ‘The worse’” (4. 2. 4 -7). “You are not worth the dust which the rude wind blows in your face. ” “Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed? ” “See thyself, devil! Proper deformity shows not in the fiend so horrid as in woman…Howe’er thou are a fiend, a woman’s shape doth shield thee. ” Goneril has changed love interests n n Edmund = Earl of Gloucester Goneril gives him a favor (Medieval) & a kiss n n Hot for Edmund – “O, the difference of man and man! To thee a woman’s services are due; My fool usurps my body. ” Albany = “milk-livered”; attacks manhood

Regan Rains on Goneril’s Parade n Letter from Regan Cornwall = dead n Edmund = eligible bachelor n n “But being widow and my Gloucester with her may all the building in my fancy pluck upon my hateful life. ” n Albany’s loyalty…to Lear n “Gloucester, I live to thank thee for the love thou show’d’st the King and to revenge thine eyes…”

Emergence of Cordelia n Gentleman’s description: n n n …And now and then an ample tear trilled down her delicate cheek. It seemed she was a queen over her passion, who, most rebel-like, fought to be king o’er her” (4. 3. 14 -17). Angelic description: 4. 3. 19 -27 Contrast to sisters n n n “’Sisters, sisters! What, i’ th’ storm, i’ th’ night? Let pity not be believed!’ There shook the holy water from her heavenly eyes, and clamor moistened. Then away she started, to deal with grief alone. ” Fate (again): “It is the stars. The stars above us govern our conditions, else one self mate and make could not beget such different issues. ” (Kent) Lear refuses to see her out of his madness and shame

Gloucester’s Tragedy n Gloucester tries to commit suicide Is this justified? n Is Gloucester’s tragedy worse than Edgar’s? Worse than Lear’s? n n Why doesn’t Edgar reveal his identity?

Gloucester’s Rebirth n Restores confidence in living life n n “Thy life’s a miracle. Speak yet again” (4. 6. 69). Restores “faith” in godless world n “That thing you speak of, I took it for a man. Often ‘twould say, ‘The fiend, the fiend!’ He led me to that place” (4. 6. 95 -97). n n “You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me; Let not my worser spirit tempt me again to die before you please” (4. 6. 241 -244). n n Does this indulge Gloucester’s tendency to place blame or to make excuses? Contradiction w/Oswald: “Now let thy friendly hand put strength enough to ‘t. ” Restores friendship between Gloucester and Lear n Gloucester realizes he can benefit someone by caring for Lear; gives him a purpose

Lear’s Madness n Language of madness n Repetition of nonsense words: “kill” and “sa sa sa” n n n Dog chase Recognizes Goneril’s wrongdoing (sane) Adultery (insane) Money for apothecary (insane) Gloucester: “O ruined piece of nature! This great world shall so wear out to naught. Dost thou know me? ” Response: “I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squinny at me? ” Takes place of the fool n n “Through tattered clothes small vices do appear. Robes and furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold, and the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks” (4. 6. 180 -183). Edgar: “Reason in madness!”

Disguises n Those who are “good” must disguise themselves (irony) n n Edgar Kent n n “Yet to be known shortens my made intent. My boon I make it that you know me not till time and I think meet” (4. 7. 10 -14). Lear’s madness? n n Reference of Ophelia: “…as mad as the vexed sea, singing aloud, crowned with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds, with hardocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckooflowers, darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow in our sustaining corn” (4. 4. 1 -6). Doctor’s response: “Our foster nurse of nature is repose, the which he lacks…”

Lear’s “Recovery” n Cordelia “prays” to gods n n “O, you kind gods, cure this great breach in his abused nature!” Lear’s restoration of sanity n n “I am bound upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tear do scald like molten lead” (4. 7. 53 -54). Senses are restored: “I feel this pinprick” Lesson learned: “I am a very foolish fond old man” Justified confusion: “I fear I am not in my perfect mind” (x 2) n Ignorant of location, garments, lodging; recognizes Cordelia, cognizant of G&R’s wrongdoing