King Lear Notes

Kent

Loyal subject of King Lear and his right-hand man.

Gloucester

Noble man who has two sons, Edgar and Edmund, and plays a key role in the subplot.

King Lear

A king who is viewed as godlike and demands respect; he decides to divide his kingdom.

Goneril

Lear’s first daughter, married to Albany.

Regan

Lear’s second daughter, married to Cornwall.

Cordelia

Lear’s third daughter, not married, representing purity and honesty.

Edmund

Illegitimate son of Gloucester who seeks to gain power.

Edgar

Legitimate son of Gloucester, initially falls victim to Edmund's schemes.

Illegitimate

Born outside of marriage; less rights and social standing.

Legitimate

Born within marriage; recognized and often has rights to inheritance.

Control

Lear's attempt to avoid a power struggle by dividing his kingdom.

Disavow

To deny any responsibility or knowledge; Lear disavows Cordelia.

Pathetic Fallacy

Nature reflects the emotional state of characters.

True Sight

The ability to see the truth of a person's nature or situation.

Anachronism

An element in a story that is out of its historical time period.

Virtue

Moral excellence; Cordelia represents virtue in the play.

Honour

A sense of what is morally right; Kent and Cordelia both display honour.

Justice

The quality of being fair and reasonable; represented by Cordelia and Kent.

Folly

Lack of good sense or foolishness; Lear's folly leads to his downfall.

Madness

A state of mind characterized by the inability to think clearly; Lear's mental state deteriorates.

Royalty

A royal status; Lear initially holds this as king.

Betrayal

The act of being disloyal; central to the themes involving Lear and his daughters.

Redemption

The act of being saved from sin or error; Lear seeks redemption through Cordelia.

Cuckoo Bird

A symbol of deceit; the Fool compares Goneril to a cuckoo for taking advantage of Lear.

Identity

Understanding who you are; Lear struggles with his identity throughout the play.

Power Dynamics

The influence of power in relationships; seen between Lear and his daughters.

Sacrifice

Giving something up for the sake of others; Kent and Cordelia exemplify this.

Self-awareness

Realizing one's true nature and flaws; Lear gains self-awareness as the play progresses.

Banishment

The act of forcing someone to leave; Lear banishes both Cordelia and Kent.

Filial Duty

The obligation of children toward their parents, highlighted in Lear's expectations.

Madman

A person who is mentally ill; Lear is often referred to as mad.

Blindness

Lack of insight or understanding; used metaphorically for Lear and Gloucester.

Greed

Excessive desire for wealth or possessions; Goneril and Regan display greed.

Loyalty

Faithfulness to commitments; Kent and Cordelia exhibit loyalty to Lear.

Restoration

Returning to a previous condition; Cordelia seeks to restore Lear's sanity.

Chaos

Complete disorder; reflects the state of the kingdom as Lear divides his power.

Compassion

Sympathetic pity and concern; Cordelia demonstrates compassion for Lear.

Ruin

The state of being destroyed; Lear's actions lead to personal and familial ruin.

Disorder

Lack of order; a central theme throughout Lear's downfall.

Subplot

A secondary story that complements the main plot; Edmund and Edgar represent the subplot.

Crisis

A time of intense difficulty; Lear's crisis occurs after he divides his kingdom.

Filial Ingratitude

Ungratefulness shown by children to their parents; Lear experiences this through Goneril and Regan.

Willfulness

The quality of being stubborn; Lear's stubbornness leads to his tragic fate.

Mortality

The state of being subject to death; Lear's journey highlights human mortality.

Clarity

Clearness in thought; Lear achieves clarity towards the end of the play.

Justice vs. Injustice

The struggle between fair treatment and unfairness; highlighted through the actions of Goneril and Regan.

Treachery

Betrayal of trust; Edmund's actions exemplify treachery.

Hubris

Excessive pride; Lear's hubris leads to his downfall.

Aging

The process of getting older; a central theme affecting Lear and Gloucester.

Cynicism

An inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by self-interest; Edmund embodies this.

Vengeance

Retribution; characters like Edmund and Goneril seek vengeance.

Divine Intervention

A supernatural influence; Albany references this in the context of justice.

Reversal of Fortune

A change in circumstances; experienced by Lear and Gloucester.

Chaos and Order

The constant struggle between disorder and the restoration of order.

Karma

The sum of a person's actions; characters face the consequences of their actions.

Restoration of Order

The process of re-establishing functionality and balance in the kingdom.

Civil War

A war between groups within the same country; illustrated in the conflict among the dukes.