King Lear 3.7 Quotes

‘bind fast his corky arms’

Cornwall— he is talking about Gloucester, and this phrase suggests that he is elderly and vulnerable, heightening the cruelty of the act they are about to commit.

‘you are my guests’

Gloucester— Regan and Cornwall are guests in his house and are attacking him— chaos and lack of social order and propriety

‘Cunning’ ‘And false’

Regan and Cornwall— this is the verdict about Gloucester, reflecting the misuse of justice and the unfairness of his so called ‘trial’

‘fierce…flesh stick boarish fangs’

Gloucester— describing Goneril as animalistic and cruel

‘Better service have I ever done you Than now to bid you hold’

Servant— idea of a good servant, who speaks truth to power vs a bad one, who is complacent. This servant is killed for speaking truth to power, showing the miscarriage of justice, but it is an interesting link to Kent, who is also shown to be a good servant.

‘She takes a sword and runs at him behind’ ‘Kills him’

Stage direction referring to Regan killing the servant— it shows cowardice as she is killing him from behind and also shows the miscarriage of justice in this chaotic universe.

‘Where’s my son Edmund?’ ‘To quit this horrid act’

Gloucester— he is calling for Edmund to stop R+C from torturing him, but he is calling on the evil son— he is still blind to Edmund’s true nature

‘O my follies! Then Edgar was abused? Kind gods, forgive me that and prosper him.’

Gloucester— this is the point at which he realises his mistake and maltreatment of Edgar, and to some extent this is an anagnorisis. However, he still believes in divine justice, which has not saved him.