King Lear Exam

Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond; nor more nor less.

Coredlia when Lear is making his daughter tell him how much they love him, cordelia is honest and truthful and refuses to exaggerate her feelings, which leads to her disinheritance.

Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart. Be Kent unmannerly When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man? Think’st thou that duty shall have dread to speak When power to flattery bows? To plainness honor’s bound When majesty falls to folly 

This quote reflects Kent's defense of honesty and integrity in the face of Lear's madness, emphasizing the conflict between truth and power in their relationship. Kent would rather die than stay silent, it highlights his good servant theme. 

Is it but this—a tardiness in nature Which often leaves the history unspoke That it intends to do?—My lord of Burgundy, What say you to the lady? 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.

France defends Coredlia by arguing that Burgeundy’s hesitation reveals he’s only in it for the land/wealth, not love.

There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let's hit together: if our father carry authority with such dispositions as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us.

Goneril talking to Regan after Lear bans Coredlia → explaing that Lear’s reckless behavior is something that they can take advantage of. 

Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law
My services are bound. Wherefore should I
Stand in the plague of custom, and permit
The curiosity of nations to deprive me,
For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-shines
Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base?
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honest madam's issue?

Edmund rejects the idea that being born a bastard makes him inferior and declares that he will follow “Nature,” not society’s rules, to claim the power and status he believes he deserves.

This is the excellent foppery of the world, that,
when we are sick in fortune,--often the surfeit
of our own behavior,--we make guilty of our
disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars: as
if we were villains by necessity; fools by
heavenly compulsion;

Edmund ridicules the idea that people blame the stars for their mistakes, arguing that humans cause their own problems but pretend fate is responsible.

I do serve you in this business.

A credulous father! and a brother noble,
Whose nature is so far from doing harms,
That he suspects none: on whose foolish honesty
My practises ride easy! I see the business.
Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit:
All with me's meet that I can fashion fit.

Edmund observes that his father is gullible and his brother too honest to suspect him, and he resolves to use his intelligence to gain power and property despite his illegitimate birth.

Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to
care for her frowning; now thou art an O without a
figure: I am better than thou art now; I am a fool,
thou art nothing.

The Fool teases Lear, saying that when Lear had authority and could command respect, he was “something,” but now, stripped of power, he is “nothing,” while the Fool, free to speak truth, retains his wit and relevance.

Doth any here know me? This is not Lear:
Doth Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?
Either his notion weakens, his discernings
Are lethargied--Ha! waking? 'tis not so.
Who is it that can tell me who I am?

King Lear, Act 1, Scene 5, beginning to feel the first cracks of mental confusion as he grapples with his loss of power and authority.

Lear questions his own identity and perception, realizing that he no longer recognizes himself or his authority, hinting at the mental and emotional unraveling to come.

That such a slave as this should wear a sword,
Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,
Like rats, oft bite the holy cords a-twain
Which are too intrinse t' unloose; smooth every passion
That in the natures of their lords rebel;

Kent criticizes those who appear loyal but are secretly deceitful, warning that such “smiling rogues” can betray their masters despite outward appearances.

O, sir, you are old.
Nature in you stands on the very verge
Of her confine: you should be ruled and led
By some discretion, that discerns your state
Better than you yourself. Therefore, I pray you,
That to our sister you do make return;
Say you have wrong'd her, sir.

Regan, Act 1, Scene 1, speaking to her father, King Lear, about Cordelia after Lear disowns her. Regan tells Lear that he is too old to make wise decisions alone and urges him to reconcile with Cordelia by admitting he wronged her.

Rumble thy bellyful! Spit, fire! spout, rain!
Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters:
I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness;
I never gave you kingdom, call'd you children,
You owe me no subscription: then let fall
Your horrible pleasure: here I stand, your slave,
A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man:
But yet I call you servile ministers,
That have with two pernicious daughters join'd
Your high engender'd battles 'gainst a head
So old and white as this. O! O! 'tis foul!

King Lear, Act 3, Scene 2, during the storm on the heath, raging against his daughters’ betrayal. Lear confronts the storm as a symbol of his daughters’ cruelty, recognizing that he is powerless and betrayed, yet still commanding the natural forces as if they are agents of justice.

Poor naked wretches, whereso'er you are,
That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,
How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides,
Your loop'd and window'd raggedness, defend you
From seasons such as these? O, I have ta'en
Too little care of this! Take physic, pomp;
Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel,
That thou mayst shake the superflux to them,
And show the heavens more just.

Lear recognizes the suffering of the homeless and poor, admitting he has failed them as a ruler and wishing that those in wealth and power could experience such hardship to inspire justice.

Why, thou wert better in thy grave than to answer
with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies.
Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou
owest the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep
no wool, the cat no perfume. Ha! here's three on
's are sophisticated! Thou art the thing itself:
unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor bare,
forked animal as thou art. Off, off, you lendings!
come unbutton here.

King Lear, Act 3, Scene 4, speaking after encountering Poor Tom (Edgar disguised as a mad beggar) during the storm. Lear, seeing Poor Tom nearly naked in the storm, realizes how artificial social status is and declares that human beings stripped of their possessions are nothing more than vulnerable, bare creatures.

Because I would not see thy cruel nails
Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister
In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.
The sea, with such a storm as his bare head
In hell-black night endured, would have buoy'd up,
And quench'd the stelled fires:
Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain.
If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time,
Thou shouldst have said 'Good porter, turn the key,'
All cruels else subscribed: but I shall see
The winged vengeance overtake such children.

Gloucester reflects on the extreme cruelty inflicted on both himself and Lear, expressing horror at his children’s inhumanity while acknowledging that such wickedness will ultimately face punishment.

Hold your hand, my lord:
I have served you ever since I was a child;
But better service have I never done you
Than now to bid you hold.

First Servant, Act 3, Scene 7, speaking during the blinding of Gloucester, as he intervenes to restrain the executioners or prevent further harm. The First Servant asserts that his most meaningful service is stopping the violence against Gloucester, showing that even a lowly servant can act courageously to prevent cruelty.

I have no way, and therefore want no eyes;
I stumbled when I saw: full oft 'tis seen,
Our means secure us, and our mere defects
Prove our commodities. O dear son Edgar,
The food of thy abused father's wrath!
Might I but live to see thee in my touch,
I'ld say I had eyes again!

Gloucester, Act 4, Scene 1, after he has been blinded and is being led by an old man; he reflects on insight, suffering, and his regret for misjudging Edgar. Gloucester says that losing his physical sight has finally given him moral insight, realizing he was “blind” when he could see, and he longs only to feel Edgar again to restore what he has lost.

As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods.
They kill us for their sport.

Gloucester, Act 4, Scene 1, speaking after being blinded, reflecting on human suffering and the cruelty of fate. Gloucester compares humans to helpless insects, suggesting that the gods—or fate—treat people with cruel indifference, causing suffering seemingly for their own amusement.

Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile:
Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?
A father, and a gracious aged man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugg'd bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you madded.
Could my good brother suffer you to do it?
A man, a prince, by him so benefited!
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offences,
It will come,
Humanity must perforce prey on itself,
Like monsters of the deep.

Albany, Act 4, Scene 2, speaking after witnessing Goneril and Regan’s cruelty toward Lear and Gloucester. Albany condemns the sisters’ barbarity, calling their actions unnatural and warning that if divine justice does not intervene, human cruelty will destroy itself.

You're much deceived: in nothing am I changed
But in my garments.

Edgar, Act 4, Scene 6, speaking while disguised as Poor Tom, as he interacts with his blinded father, Gloucester. Edgar reassures Gloucester that although his appearance is ragged and disguised, his true character and intentions remain unchanged.

Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,
So many fathom down precipitating,
Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe;
Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound.
Ten masts at each make not the altitude
Which thou hast perpendicularly fell:
Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again.

Edgar, Act 4, Scene 6, speaking to Gloucester after leading him to the edge of the cliff on the heath, testing his father’s faith and courage while still in disguise as Poor Tom. Edgar marvels that Gloucester survived what seemed like a fatal fall, noting that his body is intact and alive despite the height, calling it a miraculous escape.

What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes
with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond
justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in
thine ear: change places; and, handy-dandy, which
is the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast seen
a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?

Lear tells Gloucester that one can perceive the world’s injustices even without sight, showing that appearances often deceive and that the line between the guilty and the righteous is unclear.

To both these sisters have I sworn my love;
Each jealous of the other, as the stung
Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?
Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: to take the widow
Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;
And hardly shall I carry out my side,
Her husband being alive. Now then we'll use
His countenance for the battle; which being done,
Let her who would be rid of him devise
His speedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never see his pardon; for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

Edmund, Act 5, Scene 1, speaking as he finalizes his treacherous schemes during the battle, plotting to betray both Lear and Albany. Edmund lays out his ruthless plan to manipulate Goneril and Regan against each other and eliminate obstacles, aiming to consolidate power once the battle concludes.

We are not the first
Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst.
For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down;
Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.

Cordelia, Act 5, Scene 3, speaking after the battle as she witnesses the tragic consequences of betrayal and misfortune affecting her father, King Lear. Cordelia reflects that even with the best intentions, one can suffer the worst outcomes, expressing sorrow for Lear and the devastation around them.

The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us:

Edmund observes that human vices often bring about their own punishment, as if the gods use people’s own wrongdoing to create their downfall.