King Lear: Act 2 Scene 4*

Lear is appalled by how Kent has been treated

‘tis worse than murder to do upon respect such violent outrage

Regan cruelly tells Lear to accept his old age and weakness

I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.

Regan tells Lear to get rid of half his men

Dismissing half your train

The two sisters further strip Lear of is power and men

but five and twenty

Lear in disbelief of his two daughters reminds him what he has done for them

I gave you all

Lear doesn’t realise how bad the poor of the country have it

Our basest beggars are in the poorest thing superfluous

Lear desperately attempts to portray power seeking revenge on his two daughters

you unnatural hags, I will have such revenges on you both

Lear attempts to maintain his dignity by not crying. This foreshadows the storm scene of his mental breakdown

but this heart shall break into a hundred thousand flaws or ere I’ll weep