King Lear 4.3 Quotes

‘Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back’

Kent— this scene is essentially a plot update, as it informs of major developments. The fact that France is not there is significant because Cordelia is leading an army against her sisters, making it much more confrontational and personal.

‘Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief?’

Kent— there is a large implied comparison between Regan and Goneril, who don’t show any grief about anything.

‘an ample tear trickled down her delicate cheek’

Gentleman— Cordelia is described using explicitly Christian language, and also in a very feminine way.

‘she was queen over her passion’, ‘not to a rage’

Gentleman— Cordelia is described as having mastered her grief, and not being rageful (unlike Regan and Goneril)

‘patience and sorrow’

Gentleman— describing Cordelia as having very Chrisitan attributes

‘pearls from diamonds dropped’

Gentleman— this phrase describes Cordelia’s beauty and her emotional control

‘There she shook the holy water from her heavenly eyes’

Gentleman— explicit comparison of Cordelia to the Virgin Mary

‘A sovereign shame so elbows him’

Kent— Lear is in Dover but won’t see Cordelia because he is ashamed of what he has done— we have reached the end of the tragic arc because Lear realises what he has done wrong.