King Lear Notes

Act 1, Scene 1

Character Descriptions:

• Kent: Loyal subject of King Lear. He is upright and moral. An advisor to Lear (right-hand man / personal assistant)

• Gloucester: Key figure in the subplot. Noble man who is wealthy and has two sons. His sons are named Edgar and Edmund.

• King Lear: The king was looked at as GODLIKE and deserved the utmost respect. You would never speak to a monarch without being spoken to first, and you would not look at them in the face.

• Goneril: Lear’s First Daughter. Her husband is Albany.

• Regan: Lear’s Second Daughter. Her husband is Cornwall.

• Cordelia: Lear’s Third Daughter. The only one that isn’t married which gives her a sense of innocence. The good sister. Represents purity, honesty, and wears white

• Edmund is an illegitimate son. Edgar is legitimate. As an illegitimate son, he didn’t have many rights and would likely not get inheritance.

• Gloucester doesn’t hide Edmund and introduces him to Kent. Kent is referred to as honourable and is willing to get to know Edmund. Edmund is very polite and people are polite to him. However, Edmund knows he probably won’t get as much as Edgar

• The king, his daughters and their husbands enter the scene. The lord of France and the lord Burgundy also enter the scene as suitors to try to marry Cordelia

• Lear has decided to give up the crown (UNNATURAL), and divide his kingdom between his three son in-laws (one who is still undecided). He claims that this will avoid a power struggle between them, since if he were to die his power could end up being distributed in a problematic way (CONTROL)

• Goneril says she loves Lear more than life itself.

• Regan says she rejects all joy except her love for Lear.

• Monarchs were meant to rule until death. This meant that what Lear was doing was a betrayal of God, Who gave Lear his kingdom in the first place. He is not retiring for the good of the country but for himself.

• Everyone knows Cordelia is the GOAT of loving Lear and didn’t feel the need to participate in the game to speak loving words because she is authentic unlike the older sisters.

• Lear asks him to prove their love to him, as the plots of land that he is leaving them are not equal in size. In his final days he wants his daughters to pander to his vanity (glaze him). Cordelia not participating is embarrassing to him. 

• Cordelia is realistic and honest and exposes her sisters as FRAUDS. She will not back down even though her inheritance is on the line. Lear ain’t the hero but Cordelia is in this story. (She says nothing when it comes to professing her love)

• Lear decides to disavow and disinherit her. She will no longer be considered his daughter and she will get NOTHING (she is referred to as a stranger to him). Her suitors no longer have a purpose.

• Kent disagrees with the disavowment of Cordelia and stands up against Lear. Lear still ain’t happy and attempts to attack Kent. Lear now will disown Kent as well and banish him. Kent has 5 days to leave and if he’s spotted after the 5 days, he will be put to death immediately.

• “Ourself by monthly course, With reservation of an hundred knights By you to be sustained, shall our abode Make with you by due turn.” (1.1.148-151) - King Lear

  • Lear will live with each of his daughters for one month, assuming they will be hospitable to him and will care for him. He assumes this because they said they love him and he just gave his kingdom to them.

  • Lear also wants an entourage of 100 knights (men who have power, respect, and willing to fight) that will go wherever he goes. The daughters will also have to host these knights aka Lear’s inner circle. The knights are a symbol of the king’s power, His majesty.

    • He plans to just chill with em, party it up [Slumber Party]

• “Only we shall retain The name and all th’ addition to a king. The sway, revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours, which to confirm, This coronet part between you.” (1.1.151-155) - King Lear

  • Lear will still be called king without actually needing to be king

• Lear cannot bear to be treated in a way that doesn’t match his wishes. He cannot stand to be disobeyed, even if he’s doing something wrong.

• “Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu; He’ll shape his old course in a country new” (1.1.212) - Kent

  • Kent intends on staying close to Lear but in a different way. It’s still his responsibility to watch Lear as the advisor and plans to disguise himself. His loyalty is true.

  • Cordelia and Kent will remain loyal to Lear even if they’ve been punished.

• Cordelia is now an outcast and is no longer a smart political move for either Burgundy or France.

  • Lear originally refers to Cordelia as his jewel and now calls her a cursed stranger

  • Lear says Cordelia comes with nothing

• Cordelia sets the record straight to France and Burgundy that she didn’t do some crime to lose King’s endearment but instead refused to treasure hunt which is a virtue. 

  • “It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, / No unchaste action or dishonored step / That hath deprived me of your grace and favor, / But even for want of that for which I am richer: / A still-soliciting eye and such a tongue / That I am glad I have not, though not to have it / Hath lost me in your liking” (1.1.261-268) - Cordelia

• “She herself is a dowry” - France

  • France represents justice and virtue like Kent and Cordelia and offers Burgundy another chance to marry. Dowry means that she will come with something in a marriage, and in this case, Cordelia’s character and virtue is the gift.

  • Burgundy doesn’t accept, but does so politely, because he can’t marry without gaining wealth.

• Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my / chance, / Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France. / Not all the dukes of wat’rish Burgundy / Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.— / Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind. / Thou losest here a better where to find. (1.1.297-303)  - France

• France SEES Cordelia for what she is. His speech reflects Christian Virtue: anachronism 

  • Anachronism: when you have a feature of a text that is not accurate to the historical time period (in this case, having Christian virtues is odd because this was Before Common Era)

• Although Cordelia has no inheritance, the sisters still seem jealous of her as she had married the King of France. She bids them farewell and to take care of Lear but the Regan says “don’t tell us what to do” and Goneril says that Cordelia should focus on keeping France happy.

• The scene ends with a dialogue to show the sisters true nature. They comment on how irrational Lear is and that he is unstable. They want to use Lear’s outbursts (banishing Kent) to their advantage as a loose cannon.

• Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides, Who covers faults at last with shame derides (1.1.325-326) - Cordelia

  • What is hidden is doomed to be revealed by time. He who covers his faults is shamed in the end.

• Trumpets do not sound when France leaves. This is unnatural and indicates that disorder is already starting in the English kingdom. This is only highlighted by the discourse between Goneril and Regan.

Important Themes: Change, Order vs. Disorder, Vision, Family Relations, Aging

• Vision: King Lear can’t see what is in front of him (Cordelia loves him the most)

  • Gloucester can’t see Edmund or Edgar for their true nature.

Act 1, Scene 2

• In Edmund’s Soliloquy, he says he’s tired of living in Edgar’s shadow and being treated worse in society due to his bastardy. Edmund has become embittered by his disposition in life, and declares war, not only on his family, but on society in general. Rejecting the way that society is supposed to operate.

• Edmund not only hates Edgar for being legitimate, he also hates how society treats illegitimate kids worse. Edmund makes a plan to overthrow Edgar

• Edmund creates a forgery of Edgar’s handwriting in a letter to frame his brother. He pretends to not want to give the letter to his father to look like he’s on Edgar’s side.

• The fake letter reads that Edgar wants Edmund’s help to get rid of Gloucester to take half of his land each and they can enjoy their life.

  • A forged letter aims to turn Gloucester against his legitimate son, Edgar. The content reflects the events that have taken place so far (misplaced trust and inheritance)

  • Edmund pretends to have nothing important in the letter to make Gloucester suspicious.

• Like Lear, Gloucester places his trust in the enemy and unjustly targets a loving child

• We notice that Gloucester does not recognize Edgar's handwriting (“character”) which displays his value as a father. He also believes lies about his personality - displaying that he does not know him well at all. This also mirrors Lear as a weak father. Both fathers appear as absent fathers who don’t know their children well.

• Edmund has a phase 2 of his plan. He doesn’t want to just use the letter and wants his father to hear it firsthand from Edgar’s own mouth. He will have Gloucester hide so he can witness Edgar do/say something incriminating

• Pathetic Fallacy: the events pertaining to the characters are reflected in nature/inanimate objects.

  • Chaos in nature through the eclipses of the sun and moon. This reflects how children are turning against their parents and parents turning against their children in Britain

• Machinations, howness treachery, and all ruinous disorders follow us disquietly to our graves (1.2.119-121) - Gloucester | Translation: Conspiracies, fakery are all that’s left until we die

  • This line is ironic because he doesn’t realise he’s part of the conspiracy and being faked by his kid

• Edmund mocks people who believe in fate. He believes you must take your life in your own hands. He not only hates his father but also his father’s way of thinking. He makes a joke about how being born under a star made him evil, knowing full well he would be evil no matter what

  • Edmund rejects destiny (and control being held outside of one’s ability). He vows to take control into his own hands and punish the system that has labelled him as ‘less than’.

• Edmund baits Edgar to stay away from Gloucester to give Edmund more time to plan and the truth will not come out when they are speaking. Edgar staying away from Gloucester will also make him look more suspicious.

• Edmund tells Edgar to be armed. Since Edgar is trustworthy and has no reason to not believe Edmund, he does so. Now he’ll look even more suspicious, walking around with a sword.

• A credulous father and a brother noble, / Whose nature is so far from doing harms / That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty / My practices 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. (1.2.187-192) 

  • Edmund can hardly believe his luck, he looks at everyone around him as pawns that he is willing to sacrifice in order to get his own way. This reflects Lear’s treatment of Cordelia and Kent, as they use others to get their own way.

• Edgar’s illegitimacy not only drives him, but also defines him. It’s how he sees himself and what drives him to his evil plans

Important Themes: Fatherhood

• Fatherhood: It’s dangerous for a father to not be present with his children.

Act 1, Scene 3

• Oswald is Goneril’s steward (personal assistant). He holds a position of power within her household, and is obedient to her.

• Goneril is already at odds with Lear. Her statements from Scene 1 are already proven wrong. She tells Oswald to lie on her behalf to tell Lear she’s sick and tells him to disrespect Lear as well. 

• “Old fools are babes again and must be used / With checks as flatteries, when they are seen abused.” (1.3.19-20) - Goneril | You can’t just flatter them, you have to discipline them when you see that they’re misguided. Goneril feels she has the right to discipline her father and looks down on him like a child. King Lear is still the king despite giving his land yet she feels the right to be disrespectful to the king.

• “And let his knights have colder looks among you.What grows of it, no matter. Advise your fellows so. I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall, That I may speak” (1.3.22-25) - Goneril | Goneril instructs Oswald to tell her servants to be less hospitable to the knights. She wants conflicts within the castle so she has a reason to get rid of Lear.

Recap:

• Goneril readily turns to lie. Instead of talking to her father, her instinct is to lie.

Act 1, Scene 4

• Lear has put himself in the position where he’s a king with no power. He won’t receive the respect he expects.

• “If but as well I other accents borrow / That can my speech diffuse, my good intent / May carry through itself to that full issue / For which I razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent, / If thou canst serve where thou dost stand / condemned, / So may it come thy master, whom thou lov’st, / Shall find thee full of labors” (1.4.1-8) - Kent | Kent returns in disguise to protect Lear. Lear doesn’t recognize him. Lear has no power and needs Kent more than ever, but he doesn't know yet.

• Anachronism: Lear jokes about not eating fish, but eating fish is a Catholic way of fasting, to state he’s protestant.

• Kent is around 48 years old while Lear is around 80 years old.

• Oswald ignored Lear, being passive and rude. This is shocking to Lear and also to the audience at the time for seeing a king be treated this way.

• “My lord, I know not what the matter is, but to / my judgment your Highness is not entertained / with that ceremonious affection as you were wont. / There’s a great abatement of kindness appears as well in the general dependents as in the Duke himself also, and your daughter.” (1.4.57-62) - Knight | The knight has suspicion that everyone around Lear is giving him less respect. 

• The fool (comedian) has not been around due to him being depressed when Cordelia got banished. Everyone loved Cordelia so her banishment is a big deal.

• Up until this point, Lear has spoken in blank verse (the metre of the nobility) and now speaks in prose, which is the domestic and crude language of the common man)

• Shakespeare wants the characters of the fool and Cordelia to be closely related in the audience’s mind. (it’s believed that the fool and Cordelia were played by the same actor at the time.) In a way, the fool represents Cordelia’s presence in Lear’s life.

• “Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal? (1.4.73) - King Lear | This would be the first time Lear was looked in the face by someone who was beneath him. Oswald looks him in the eye.

• Kent ain’t taking Oswald’s crap and trips him to solidify a friendship with Lear.

• The fool is allowed to be the voice of reason and authority as the comedian. The fool says he wants to give Lear the coxcomb to say Kent is a fool to serve Lear.

• “Nothing can be made out of nothing” (1.4.129-130) - Lear This is another time the word Nothing is used and was a similar phrase he used to Cordelia. Basically meaning “I will give you nothing if you give me nothing

• The fool points out that Lear will not have the respect he hopes for in the future after trusting Goneril and Regan.

• “Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown / when thou gav’st thy golden one away. If I speak / like myself in this, let him be whipped that first / finds it so.” (1.4.166-169) - Fool | The fool tells Lear he no longer has a crown, and that was his own doing. The mistake he made with Goneril and Regan will put him at his knees to his daughter. Lear can’t punish the fool though because the fools entire service is to say the truth

• “I have used it, nuncle, e’er since thou mad’st thy / daughters thy mothers. For when thou gav’st them / the rod and put’st down thine own breeches” (1.4.176-178) - Fool | You put your daughters in front of you and gave them the authority to punish you.

• The fool tells Lear he has no power, has given power to his daughters to treat him like a child

• Cordelia and the fool are both honest.

• “For you know, nuncle, The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long, That it’s had it head bit off by it young. So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.” (1.4.220-) - Fool

  • The fool compares Goneril to a cuckoo bird. Instead of building their own nest, females lay their eggs in other birds’ nests. This is to trick other small types of birds to treat the egg as their own. The bigger cuckoo bird grows and then eats all the food to eliminate the other birds. His daughters will take everything Lear has and will be pushed out of his own kingdom

• “Who is it that can tell me who I am? (1.4.236) - Lear

  • Lear has lost sense of who he is and starts him off on a dark path.

  • Lear is questioning his identity and is confused by his surroundings. He is not only confused about who he is, he also asks Goneril who she is (he asks earlier… are you our daughter?)

• The Fool tells Lear that he is a shadow of the man he used to be (he is no longer substantial)

• Goneril accuses Lear’s knights of being vulgar and disordered, saying they are bringing down her castle and making it a tavern/brothel. Because of this, you need to get rid of some of your knights.

• Lear’s knights represent the little piece of power he has left. Goneril wanting him to get rid of them is very symbolic. 

• Lear has another outburst and refers to Goneril as a bastard child. 

  • This is a connection to Edmund. This word is very rude and societally shunned

• Detested kite, thou liest. (1.4.236) Lear This treatment is compared to how he treated Cordelia.

  • Kite/vulture is another type of bird - Lear refers to Goneril in this way

• Lear reflects that what Goneril is doing to him is worse than what Cordelia did.

• Lear starts hitting his head and is upset about what happened with Cordelia. 

• Albany appears and claims that he is ignorant (he as in himself not Lear).

• My Lord, I am guiltless as I am ignorant [ of what hath moved you] (1.4.286-287). Albany

  • Like Macbeth - Goneril, like Lady Macbeth, is a manipulative crazy lady, whereas her husband is ultimately innocent (okay maybe not Macbeth but Albany is chill in this case)

• Lear has a monologue where he basically curses Goneril and says that he hopes if she has children, they’re as ungrateful as her. Goneril uses this to her advantage to get rid of his knights and advance her plan. 

  • This is similar to Edmund and Gloucester

• Lear off stage realises Goneril’s plan. 

• Lear masculinity is being halved (Thou hast power to shake my manhood..Lear) (Represented by his knights being cut in half)

• “What, fifty of my followers at a clap? Within a fortnight? (1.4.308-309) Lear

• He cries, but says this is my last time crying. 

• He claims he has another daughter who will help him (little does he know..lol)

• Lear, in his rage, thinks that by going to Regan, he can turn back and regain his title. 

• Thou shalt find That i’ll resume the shape which thou dost think I have cast off forever (1.4.325-327)  Lear

• The fool follows Lear.

• Goneril claims the knights give Lear a power of her that she does not want- he may have the upper hand. Albany, her husband, thinks this is extreme and that she’s exaggerating this risk. 

• Before Lear can get to Regan, Goneril gives Oswald a letter to give to Regan so they are on the same page. 

  • This is a connection to the subplot as a letter to Gloucester is also being sent

• Goneril is seen as a woman that disrespects her father and does not take her husband seriously. 

Recap: 

• Kent shows that not all deception is wrong. The value of a deceptive act is determined by its intent | What are the long-term effects on someone who’s been deceived for a good reason?

• King Lear has become nothing by dividing his kingdom and giving up his power

• Lear has become a fool who has nothing and the fool is the wise man who has the wisdom that Lear should have.

Act 1, Scene 5

• Lear instructs Kent to bring a letter to the Earl of Gloucester, and not to speak a word about anything so as not to distort the truth. This is the opposite of Goneril’s instruction to Oswald

  • Notice that those who are at Lear’s side are two men and against him are two women (underhanded sexist jab)

• “She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab” - Fool (1.5.18)

  • The fool is using a crabapple (sour and bitter food) to compare the daughters to say they are bitter. He says Regan is the same as Goneril.

• “I did her wrong.” - Lear (1.5.24)

  • We start to feel more sympathy for Lear now that he admits he did Cordelia wrong. This makes him more likeable to the audience. This makes him for self-aware

• The fool continues to trash-talk Lear. Lear says he was a kind father, which the audience is bound to disagree with. This shows that Lear isn’t completely self-aware

• “Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise” - Fool (1.5.unknown). 

  • He acts old but not wise

• Shakespeare uses this to highlight that Lear knows what he did was wrong to make the audience care more for Lear a bit more to stay engaged with the plot

• Lear says a prayer to not go mad. This pushes for sympathy and empathy for Lear by the audience. 

Recap:

• The ideas of letters are tied to trust. Lear trusts far too easily and gives it to New Kent. He trusts people who tell him what he wants to hear.

• Lear foreshadows his own descent into madness while simultaneously signalling that his self-awareness is growing

Act 2, Scene 1

• We are now in Gloucester’s estate (Regan and Cornwall are on their way to the estate)

• “Have you heard of no likely wars toward ‘twixt the dukes of Cornwall and Albany?” (2.1.10-11) - Curan

  • We learn a possible war within the country between the two halves of the kingdom

• Edmund is using the arrival of Cornwall and Regan to his advantage to make Edgar more suspicious. He tells him that Cornwall and Regan are after him and that he should run and hide. Edmund manipulates his brother to feel paranoia, creating a sense of panic for Edgar.

• Edmund uses Edgar’s panic to force a fight between them. Edgar isn’t thinking straight, and now he looks so suspicious. Edmund then tells Edgar to flee and he does. This is incriminating to everyone else. Edmund even cuts himself to make it even more convincing.

• Edgar looks guilty and cements Gloucester's plans to catch Edgar.

• Edmund accuses Edgar of witchcraft to Gloucester. This is to make Edgar look evil and connected to the devil.

• “Persuade me to the murder of your Lordship, But that I told him the revenging gods ’Gainst parricides did all the thunder bend, Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond The child was bound to th’ father—sir” (2.1.53-57) - Edmund

  • This is ironic since Edmund doesn’t believe in these sorts of God. It’s also ironic because Edmund is practically saying “I would never lie to my father,” and… y’know, liar liar pants on fire.

• Gloucester is aligned with Cornwall (is Gloucester’s “master”). Gloucester is not interested in letting Edgar speak for himself, he is only in executing Edgar.

• Edmund uses his label of bastard to his benefit. He says “ooh who’s gonna believe me i’m just a little bastard uwu” to draw empathy from his father and make Gloucester feel sorry for him.

• “And of my land, Loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means To make thee capable” - Gloucester

  • Edmund succeeds and essentially goes from illegitimate to legitimate

• “What, did my father’s godson seek your life? He whom my father named, your Edgar?” (2.1.107-108) - Regan

  • Edgar is Lear’s godson. This aligns the two together.

  • Ananchorism: Lear was at Edgar’s baptism in order to be declared as his godfather. Baptism didn’t exist historically.

• “Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tended upon my father? / Yes, madam, he was of that consort” (2.1.110-113) - Regan, then Edmund

  • Regan makes a connection to the knights of Lear to Edgar. The schemes of Edmund and Goneril/Regan have overlapped and Edmund supports them.

• “So much commend itself, you shall be ours. Natures of such deep trust we shall much need. You we first seize on” (2.1.133-135) - Cornwall

  • Edmund is praised by Cornwall and makes an alliance with him. Edmund has easily deceived both his father, as well as Regan and Cornwall

• “Our good old friend, Lay comforts to your bosom and bestow Your needful counsel to our businesses, Which craves the instant use.” (2.1.146-149) - Regan

  • Regan is asking for advice on which letter she should respond to, Lear’s or her sister. Regan already knows what she wants to do but is trying to get Gloucester on her side.

How does a father’s absence make him more easily manipulated by his child’s actions?

Recap:

• The blurring of the subplot and the plot to combine Regan’s enemies (Lear’s knights) and Edmund’s enemy (Edgar).

• This scene is about alliances

Act 2, Scene 2

• In Gloucester’s courtyard, Kent and Oswald, who have arrived to deliver messages meet again yet Oswald does not remember Kent (using an alter ego)

• “A knave (lowlife) a rascal, an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy worsted-stocking knave” (2.2.14-16) - Kent

  • Kent is openly honest about his thoughts on Oswald and calls Oswald someone who eats scrap. Oswald serves Goneril for the wrong reasons, only for the awards, and Kent is a true servant to the king.

• Oswald’s inability to recognize Kent shows how self-absorbed he is. Connects to the theme of vision as he’s unable to see a villain in front of him. It shows how condescending he is. He does not value people who he thinks are below him

• This whole scene is about contrasting the characters Kent and Oswald.

• “Is it two days (ago) since I tripped up thy heels and beat thee before the King?” (2.2.29-30) - Kent

• “You cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee; a tailor made thee” (2.2.55-56) - Kent

  • You aren’t living up to be by nature. Kent is claiming Oswald is not a real man. The only thing that’s manly about you is the man’s clothes you wear by a tailor.

  • You are one way on the outside, and different on the inside. Looks nice and manly on the outside but a big little stinker (villain)

• Since Oswald denied one of the insults, Kent tells him to square up and run them hands. Oswald refuses to draw his sword, but Kent continues to tell Oswald to draw his sword then starts beating his ass

• “This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spared at suit of his gray beard” (2.2.63-64) - Oswald

  • When interrupted by Cornwall, Oswald is shown to be a liar by saying he didn’t kill Kent because Kent is an old man, and he’d feel bad if he killed this crippled old man

• “Being oil to fire, snow to the colder moods—<Renege,> affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks With every <gale> and vary of their masters, Knowing naught, like dogs, but following” - Kent (2.2.81-84)

  • The type of servant Oswald is the type that does whatever the master wants. Doesn’t actually stand for anything or for what is right. If the master is mad, you should make him madder. They don’t have any backbone, lacks integrity, only thinks about themselves to keep themselves in good standing with the master. Kent calls Oswald a dog, following around the owner for a treat

  • This shows Oswald as a bad type of servant, but also compares him to a dog.

  • Kent is the opposite as he had integrity to put his job on the line and stood up for what was right (Cordelia’s defence). Not only did Kent do what is right, he still remains loyal to Lear despite banishment.

  • This is done to show the two types of servants.

• Kent is not necessarily upset as Oswald but the type of person Oswald represents. Oswald represents dishonesty, using others, the reason society is corrupt.

• Kent is still honest in front of Cornwall, his superior, and Cornwall is confused how a common man can speak with so much honesty and confidence.

• Kent reminds Oswald what Kent did to Oswald, and now Oswald is using that information to throw Lear under the bus, saying Kent is doing what he’s doing to make the King happy.

• Cornwall decides that he’s going to put Kent in the stocks as punishment until noon, but Regan overshadows his husband by wanting him in the stocks until night. This shows her cruelty and how, in this play, women’s cruelty eclipses the man’s.

• Gloucester, like Lear, starts to show some self-awareness and respect. He still has little integrity and notes that it’s not Cornwall’s and Regan’s job to punish Lear’s servant and that their punishment is way too harsh.

• Albany and Cornwall have a key difference. Albany is neutral and is still trying to understand Lear while Cornwall is aligned with the sisters.

• “My sister may receive it much more worse To have her gentleman abused, assaulted” - Regan (2.2.139-140)

  • It is Goneril whose servant is treated with respect, not Lear’s. They’d rather insult her father instead of her sister

• Gloucester still has respect for Lear and has some self-awareness besides the events with his sons.

• Cornwall is the type of leader to get whatever he wants. Gloucester is starting to see some distaste of Lear from Cornwall and Regan that he didn’t see before he aligned with them.

• “I know ’tis from Cordelia, Who hath most fortunately been informed Of my obscurèd course, and shall find time From this enormous state, seeking to give Losses their remedies.” (2.2.181-185) - Kent

  • Kent waited for Gloucester so he could read a letter from Cordelia, and she has a network of spies. Cordelia was informed Kent was still protecting Lear. Cordelia is currently trying to come up with a plan to right the wrongs and make Lear respected again.

• “Fortune, good night. Smile once more; turn thy wheel.” - Kent (2.2.88)

  • An allusion to the wheel of fortune. What goes around comes around. He’s hoping the wheel will turn (Lear is currently on the bottom) and put Lear on the top.

Act 2, Scene 3

• Somewhere on Gloucester’s estate, Edgar stops to rest from having escaped, and makes a decision

• “I will preserve myself, and am bethought To take the basest and most poorest shape That ever penury in contempt of man Brought near to beast” (2.3.6-9) - Edgar

  • Like Kent, Edgar is also going to put on a disguise as the biggest bum on earth. Poor as hell and homeless. He’s a “Poor tom”

• He’s also going to act like he’s mentally unstable.

• “Poor Turlygod! Poor Tom!... That’s something yet. “Edgar” I nothing am.” (2.3.20-21) - Edgar

  • Bedlam refers to Bethlehem hospitals that treated the mentally ill. He’s now in the disguise

Act 2 Scene 4

• The beginning of this scene King Lear is going to be pushed further than his brink

  • He was insulted by Oswald

    • Referred to as not a king

  • He was insulted by Goneril 

    • Tried to take half of his knights

  • They punished his servant

    • This is going to push him even more to insanity

• Lear laughs when he first sees Kent

  • He thinks what happens is a misunderstanding 

    • What’s he that hath so much thy place mistook To set thee here? (2.4.15-16)(Lear)

• By Jupiter, I swear no… They could not, would not do ’t. ’Tis worse than murder (2.4.23.26-27) (Lear)

  • He says what they did is worse than murder

• To do upon respect such violent outrage. Resolve me with all modest haste which way Thou might’st deserve or they impose this usage, Coming from us. (2.4.28-31) (Lear)

  • Last time Lear uses the royal “us”

  • Shakespeare depicts him as coming down off his royal post

  • He says that Kent should tell him (Lear) what he did so that he can understand why he deserved it

• Kent says that after he arrived and they saw Goneril’s letter he was given cold looks and treated poorly

  • He talks about how he stood up for Lear against Oswald

• “O, how this mother swells up toward my heart Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing sorrow! Thy element’s below.—Where is this daughter?” - Lear

  • He is starting to lose control of his body and his social standing **

• Kent - Why did the king come with such small number of people

  • The fool says that this is why you’re in the stocks

    • He is making fun of Kent because Kent cannot understand that Lear has lost his power

    • Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill lest it break thy neck with following - Fool

      • Lear is a disaster waiting to happen

      • He is compared to a wooden wheel going down a hill that is going to break

      • The fool says to Kent to let go so he doesn’t get crushed as a consequence 

• Gloucester is now put in the middle

  • He is sworn in an allegiance with Cornwall (The new leader)

  • He has a relationship with Lear too

    • He is stuck in the middle inbetween them

• Lear is angry that they aren’t letting him see Regan

• Lear is about to lose it again

  • No, but not yet. Maybe he is not well. Infirmity doth still neglect all office Whereto our health is bound. We are not ourselves When nature, being oppressed, commands the mind To suffer with the body. (2.4.118-122) (Lear)

    • He makes up an excuse as to why they are treating them this way

    • He is in denial

• Lear grabs at his heart

  • He knows that he is unwell

  • This is meant for the audience to feel some empathy and sympathy for him

    • It is meant for us to feel that we are panicked for him

    • It is so we will feel sorry for him

    • He is an 80 year old man being disrespected by his kids and royal subjects

• Lear is reunited with his daughter Regan

  • He tries to express to her what happened between him and Goneril

  • He is going to Regan to get empathy and sympathy for him

    • He wants respect

    • Regan from the start makes it clear that she is on Goneril’s side

      • This is the last straw for Lear

• O sir, you are old. Nature in you stands on the very verge Of his confine. You should be ruled and led By some discretion that discerns your state Better than you yourself. (2.4.164-167) (Regan)

  • Regan tells Lear he is old and he is going to die soon

  • She tells him that her and Goneril are going to make all the decisions for him (His personal life)

• Lear regards himself as the front of all power (feudal lord) and cannot comprehend apologizing to anyone, he has always been above all others

• Lear kneels 

  • Very crazy

  • Fathers would never kneel for their kids

  • Kings would never kneel for anyone

  • Lear kneels out of desperation 

    • He is begging

    • He doesn’t have anyone else

• She calls it a trick, she is criticizing him even though he is begging

• She uses his flaws against him

• No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse. Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give Thee o’er to harshness. (2.4.192-194) (Lear)

  • Unfortunately his record of being rash and short sighted is working against him

• Lear reminds her that he is her father and that she is supposed to be respectful especially because he gave her half the land

• When Goneril arrives, Goneril walks over to Regan and they hold hands

  • This is terrible for Lear to see

  • O Regan, will you take her by the hand? (2.4.223) (Lear)

    • This is a sign of betrayal and the final stripping of Lear’s powerl

• They want his father to be weak and act so weak and insignificant 

  • I pray you, father, being weak, seem so. (2.4.233) (Regan)

  • He is betrayed by country by family and he is now backed into a corner

• I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad. I will not trouble thee, my child. Farewell. We’ll no more meet, no more see one another. But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter, Or, rather, a disease that’s in my flesh, Which I must needs call mine. (2.4.251-256) (Lear)

  • He decides he is leaving

  • He understands that now he must break off from Goneril and Regan 

  • He wants to do anything than go and live with Goneril

• He tells them he is going to live with Regan

  • Regan rejects him because it is not her month yet

  • If its not her turn she wont take him in

• She tells him to go back to Goneril and use the servants that they have

  • They want to remove his power

  • And remove the people who are loyal to him 

• I entreat you To bring but five-and-twenty. To no more Will I give place or notice. (2.4.283-285) (Regan)

  • They lower the knights count to 25

  • This is to remove even more of his power

• Goneril lowers the number of knights to 5-10

  • The number of knights in this scene go from

    • 100

    • 50

    • 25

    • 10/5

  • They want to literally remove whatever power he has left

  • What need one? (2.4.303) (Regan)

    • It goes down to 1

• Lear has a meltdown

  • He wants them to give him the knights out of respect for him

  • As Lear is saying this a storm breaks out

    • Pathetic Fallacy 

    • The storm mirrors his conflict and that he has been stripped to nothing

      • Unnatural

• The two daughters are okay with their 80 year old father walking out in the storm alone

• His daughters are cruel

  • They show no compassion for their father

  • This is their ultimate betrayal at this point

• They lock the doors on their father at the end after kicking him out

Act 3 Scene 1

• Act three departs from the cruel disposition of Lear’s daughters and focuses on the INTERNAL CONFLICT Lear is now experiencing. The knight’s question prepares the audience for the image of a king who is out in the cold. To audiences of the time, the idea of a king being out in a storm, abandoned by his family is disturbing and upsetting.

• Lear calls for an apocalyptic event like a flood to start because he thinks all of civilization should restart

  • This reflects how he looks at himself, he looks at himself as the centre of the universe

• None but the Fool, who labors to outjest His heart-struck injuries. (3.1.19-20) (Gentleman)

  • No one is with Lear but the fool

  • The fool represents Cordelia’s love

    • She is with him always in her love for him

    • The fool is with him in the storm

• There is division, Although as yet the face of it is covered With mutual cunning, ’twixt Albany and Cornwall, Who have—as who have not, that their great stars Throned and set high?—servants, who seem no less, Which are to France the spies and speculations (3.1.23-28) (Kent)

  • There is a feud between Albany and Cornwall

  • Although it is behind closed doors

  • Cordelia planted French spies to tell her what is going on

    • She knows that they want to go to war for all the land

  • Their first feud was with their father

    • The second is with each other

• Cordelia is sending her army not to take the land, but to restore order to Britain

  • And to help her father

• Kent says to the knight, he wants him to go to Dover

• Kent still a diplomat and involved in the politics in the kingdom sends a knight to Dover (Supposedly where Cordelia is)

  • To tell Cordelia what happened to her father

  • Kent gives the little money he has left to the knight to show he is a noble man

  • Kent hands the man his ring that he had from when he was an adviser so that Cordelia will trust the knight

    • The ring shows us that Kent holds on to an important piece of who he was (He is still that noble loyal politician that he was)

Act 3 Scene 2

• And thou, all-shaking thunder, Strike flat the thick rotundity o’ th’ world. (3.2.7-9) (Lear)

  • Lear is calling for the end of the world

  • He is disgusted with humanity and has given up on humanity

    • This comes from the betrayal of his daughters

• The fool is trying to keep Lear laughing and focused to try to get him out of this 

• Since I was man, Such sheets of fire, such bursts of horrid thunder, Such groans of roaring wind and rain I never Remember to have heard. Man’s nature cannot carry Th’ affliction nor the fear. (3.2.47-51) (Kent)

  • Kent says in his whole life he has never seen a storm that bad

  • He is saying that maybe Britain won't be able to stand after the battle

• Kent is really worried about Lear

  • He tells him to find shelter

    • Lear doesn't listen, he is too lost in his own thoughts

• Lear fails to see that he has a mistake in giving up his responsibilities and focuses on the cruel behaviour of his daughters. He does not see that his treatment of Cordelia mirrors how Goneril and Regan’s treatment of him

• “My wits begin to turn.- Come on, my boy. How dost, my boy? Art cold? I am cold myself. (3.2.73-75). Lear. 

  • With these lines, Lear changes. he (for the first time) thinks of someone other than himself. And this "kindness" is afforded to the Fool, who is a representation of Cordelia. He finally cares about someone other than himself.

• Lear is in and out of sanity. However, suddenly, Lear is cooperating and being..nice. 

• The Fool ends this scene with a little singing proclamation that is intended to make the audience feel lighthearted at the end of this heavy scene.

Act 3 Scene 3

• Gloucester voices his distrust of Cornwall. Although he is in an alliance with him, he doesn’t like Cornwall’s treatment with Lear. Cornwall and Regan have forbidden Gloucester from helping out his friend (Lear). He voices these complaints to Edmund, and Edmund is like “omg so true what a jerk girl, men are sh*t” (just appealing to Gloucester’s emotion, not really giving a shit).

  • Gloucester feels that the way Cornwall and Regan are acting towards their father is UNNATURAL. The irony here is that his own son in whom he trusts harbours the same contempt and disrespect for his father.

• Gloucester receives a letter about the French troops sent by Cordelia, who are there for two reasons. (1) to avoid civil war and keep peace within the kingdom, (2) and to help out Lear. Gloucester’s mistake is revealing this info to Edmund

  • Gloucester reveals that he knows that France is coming to aid Lear and wants Edmund to distract Cornwall while he finds Lear to help him. Gloucester claims he is willing to die to stay on the King’s side.

• Gloucester has not only shown his loyalty to Lear, but shows he would die for Lear. Gloucester is a neutral character at this point. We respect his friendship for Lear but disrespect his irrational decisions to destroy Edgar’s life for trusting the wrong son.

• “This courtesy forbid thee shall the Duke Instantly know, and of that letter too. This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me That which my father loses—no less than all. The younger rises when the old doth fall.” (3.320-26) - Edmund

  • Edmund plans to snitch to Cornwall, betraying Gloucester. Edmund now has betrayed both his brother and his father. Chances are that Gloucester will be banished and Edmund will inherit everything. Edmund is willing to throw the older generation under the bus so he can come up on top.

  • He claims the young will rise and the old will fall. The “old” representing the society that has labelled him illegitimate and pushed him away.

Act 3 Scene 4

• “Wilt break my heart?” - Lear (3.4.6)

  • Lear is hesitant to remove himself from the storm because the storm was distracting him from his pain. He will become preoccupied by the filial ingratitude that he faces

• “O, that way madness lies.” (3.4.24) - Lear

  • The more Lear thinks about his daughters’ actions, the more he loses his sanity.

• “Poor naked wretches, wheresoe’er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm, How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides, Your looped and windowed raggedness defend you From seasons such as these? O, I have ta’en Too little care of this” (3.4.32-38) - Lear

  • Lear’s ego and self-centeredness continues to crack as he claims that he understands what the poor experience and now feels like he has not done enough for them

  • He starts from caring from one person in the last scene to caring for his entire kingdom.

  • Lear shows regret for not only how he treated Cordelia but for his entire kingdom. Lear claims his experience of losing everything is enlightening to him.

  • Change is a big theme

• Lear asks about Edgar’s story. Edgar gives a false background (used to be a gambler and lustful, then lost everything) that mirrors the ‘moral play’ which were popular at the times, stories about young men who are hypnotised by the world and then tasked with regaining their virtue.

• “Thou art the thing itself” (3.4.113) - Lear

  • Lear says that Edgar is a real thing (human). Lear does not judge Poor Tom, and rather wants to mimic Edfar and return to the most basic stage of human being - one wandering naked without anything to their name. He attempts to tear his clothes off.

• Gloucester left his estate to find Lear, beforehand telling Edmund to distract Cornwall and Regan. Gloucester appears and does not recognize the Poor Tom as Edgar. Gloucester is here to take Lear, as he is unable to deal with Goneril and Regan’s treatment of Lear.

• Edgar continues to try to lean into the persona to make sure Gloucester doesn’t recognize him.

• “I’ll talk a word with this same learned Theban – What is your study?” (3.4.165-166) - Lear

  • Lear sees Edgar as a Greek Philosopher and wants to stay with Edgar to learn from him.

• “Ah, that good Kent! He said it would be thus, poor banished man.” (3.4.172-173) - Gloucester

  • Gloucester doesn’t realise he is saying this to Kent, he can’t see what is right in front of him (Dramatic Irony)

• “He sought my life But lately, very late. I loved him, friend, No father his son dearer. True to tell thee, The grief hath crazed my wits” (3.4.177-180) - Gloucester

  • This is the first time Gloucester says anything nice about Edgar. He explains he’s going a bit crazy. We see Gloucester slowly seeing and understanding things about his life, like how Lear is.

  • Gloucester laments the loss of Edgar, and claims that he loved him, and is losing his sanity with grief of what has happened (parallel to Lear)

Act 3 Scene 5

• “How, my lord, I may be censured, that nature thus gives way to loyalty, something fears me to think of.” (3.5.3-5) - Edmund

  • Edmund goes straight to Cornwall and snitches about the plan. He shows everyone that he puts loyalty over nature (loyalty to royalty than his family). He has some fear he’s going to be judged for choosing Loyalty over nature (but he doesn’t care about neither but himself).

• “I now perceive… badness in himself” - Cornwall (3.5.6-9)

  • Cornwall makes a connection that Edgar is evil because Gloucester is evil for cooperating with France 

• “True or false, it hath… for our apprehension.” (3.5.18-20) - Cornwall

  • Edmund realizes that if he finds Gloucester red handed with Lear, it will guarantee his position as the new Earl of Gloucester. He claims that he rather not have to be known as one who betrays his own father, but it will be worth it

  • Edmund has successfully overtaken his father as the Earl of Gloucester. One catch is that he has to find Gloucester

  • He defeated his brother, he defeated his father, now he wants to be even more ambitious and go up into the Royal Family

• Cornwall takes Edmund as a son. We remember this idea that Edmund’s plan was not just about breaking his family, but about breaking society because of his label as a “bastard”

Act 3 Scene 6

• They are in a sheltered area on Gloucester’s estate. Lear decides to set up a mock trial, Edgar will be the judge, and the Fool will play the roles of Regan and Goneril

  • This is human nature when people are mad but are unable to say it in front of the people they are mad at.

• “Frateretto calls me and tells me Nero is an angler in the lake of darkness. Pray, innocent, and beware the foul fiend” - Edgar

  • Edgar continuously makes references to the devil because it was commonly believed that people who were mentally unstable were possessed by the devil. It adds to his disguise that he is not mentally stable.

• “O pity! Sir, where is the patience now That you so oft have boasted to retain?” (3.6.61-62) - Kent

  • Kent notices that his master who had once had patience and self-discipline no longer has it

• “My tears begin to take his part so much They mar my counterfeiting.” (3.6.63-64) - Edgar

  • Edgar feels so sorry for Lear he’s starting to cry. This could hurt Edgar’s persona as the unstable Poor Tom

• This mock trial was used to let all of Lear’s anger out, and Edgar and Kent feel bad for him.

• After his mock trial, Lear feels tired and falls asleep 

• He gives Edgar approval that he likes him 

• “I have overheard a plot of death upon him. There is a litter ready; lay him in ’t, And drive toward Dover, friend, where thou shalt meet both welcome and protection. Take up thy master. If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life, with thine and all that offer to defend him, stand in assurèd loss.” (3.6.94-101) (Gloucester)

  • When Gloucester returns and tells everyone to go to Dover to be safe 

• When we our betters see bearing our woes, we scarcely think our miseries our foes (3.6.111-112) (Edgar)

  • When we see people who are more important than us with problems worse than ours we forget what is going on in our lives. 

  • It is helpful to come together with other people to put our problems into perspective. 

• “When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes. Who alone suffers most i’ th’ mind, Leaving free things and happy shows behind. But then the mind much sufferance doth o’er skip When grief hath mates and bearing fellowship. How light and portable my pain seems when that which makes me bend makes the King bow!” (3.6.111-119) (Edgar)

  • Edgar is in the wilderness with Lear, Kent, the fool and Gloucester though they have just excited the scene. In this ruling speech, Edgar expresses the importance of entering into the suffering of others, he describes the added difficulty of a man who must suffer alone, pointing out that a mental burden is added to this kind of isolation. **

  • Much mental suffering can be avoided or skipped, if one has friends to help bear the suffering. The final two lines of this passage reveal. Edgar's wide perspective. The pain of rejection and misunderstanding he has suffered seems much smaller in light of the great pain and anguish that King Lear has suffered.  **

• He childed as I fathered. Tom, away. Mark the high noises, and thyself bewray when false opinion, whose wrong thoughts defile thee, In thy just proof repeals and reconciles thee. What will hap more tonight, safe ’scape the King! (3.6.120-125) 

  • Edgar is feeling better about his problem now as he sees that Lear is going through the same thing - he has hope that he can survive. 

  • Lear feels a kindred spirit as someone he looks up to and can relate to - he asks poor Tom for advice. 

  • They are both on the same page as they have been betrayed by their family and disconnected from society. 

• Edgar decides that he is going to attempt to get back to his old position and make peace with who he was - in Lear, he finds hope to better himself *

• This idea that Shakespere demonstrates is that when we are going through hardships we need support from other people. 

• Gloucester makes these accusations without thinking of the suffering of others. 

Act 3 Scene 7

• “Seek out the Traitor Gloucester.” (3.7.3-4) - Cornwall

  • Gloucester has already been re-identified as a traitor. In Act 1, Gloucester was known as a trusted friend of the family (said by Regan) but quickly was turned into the family's enemies. 

• “Hang him instantly. / Pluck out his eyes” (3.7.5-6) - Regan, then Goneril.

  • Regan originally went to Gloucester for advice in earlier acts, but now wants him dead, she’s fickle. Punishing someone is one thing, but plucking his eyes is cruel. The play shows women have more cruelty in this case.

  • Notice that Cornwall wants to find Gloucester but his wife wants to kill him without a trial. This is corrupt and unnatural for the audience as they believed that women were more nurturing and loving than men were

• Cornwall tells Edmund to leave so he doesn’t have to watch his father die. Edmund doesn’t really care, which is unnatural for a kid to not care about his father.

• “Without the form of justice, yet our power Shall do a court’ sy to our wrath, which men May blame, but not control.” - Cornwall

  • The line means that the leaders will get Gloucester and punish him without a trial. He acknowledges that people will not like it, but they don’t care. This shows that they are leaders that believe they are above the law.

• “What means your Graces? Good my friends, consider You are my guests; do me no foul play, friends.” (3.7.35-37) - Gloucester

  • Another layer of injustice because they are not giving him a fair trial and that they are mistreating him in his own home

  • Gloucester mistook their position just as Lear did and now he’s going to suffer just like Lear did

• Regan starts plucking at Gloucester’s beard

  • This is another instance of abuse to the elderly

  • They start trying to extort Gloucester for information about the letters and why they are taking Lear to Dover

  • Lear being alive is a problem for the daughters because he could get in the way of their power, so they are losing it because they desperately want to find Lear

• Gloucester evolves into being an honest character who stands his ground. He knows they are going to hurt him but he just tells Regan and Cornwall that they are disgusting. He joins the ranks as a “good” character like Kent.

• Due to Gloucester’s lack of cooperation, Cornwall rips an eye off. A servant of Cornwall does not like what Cornwall did, so he tells Cornwall to fight him in the name of justice. The servant wounds Cornwall, and Regan stabs the servant in the back.

  • Because violence was a part of life, there were rules. You had to engage in a fair fight, head-to-head. This was a move of cowardice

• A list of elderly abuse: Gloucester’s beard being plucked, Cornwall forces one of Gloucester’s eyes, Cornwall forces Gloucester’s other eye.

• Theme of True Sight: Gloucester is physically blind, showing his loss of vision. This is a literal demonstration of loss of vision.

  • This is known as Shakespeare’s most gruesome scene in any of his plays. It wouldn’t be performed on stage, it would be performed off-stage. You’d hear it but not see it when it was performed originally. This is mainly because Gloucester is an elder

• “O my follies! Then Edgar was abused. Kind gods, forgive me that prosper him.” (2.7.111-112) - Gloucester

  • Regan laughs when Gloucester calls for Edmund to help. Gloucester finds out Edmund betrays him and realizes Edgar is innocent. It’s ironic that now he finally sees Edgar as innocent now that he’s completely blind.

  • This epiphany has Gloucester gain true sight and tells the gods to bless Edgar and to forgive Gloucester.

• Two Servants of Cornwall remain looking at the one servant that got killed. The servants wish their masters dead and want to help Gloucester by leading him to the ‘Poor Tom’ who they feel has nothing to lose by taking on the blinded Earl. He’s known as a criminal to the world so someone with nothing to lose can be the only one can take care of him

• As the scene ends we have Lear starting to SEE his social responsibilities as well as Gloucester SEE the truth about Edgar

• Charged with a brutal power, the scene of Gloucester’s blinding also illustrates Lear’s contention that our actions determine what we take to be the dispensation of heaven (This shows fate). Cornwall, as he pokes out Gloucester’s eyes, shows the heavens less just, but the serving man who rushes at him with drawn sword to prevent his crime – although he fails to save Gloucester’s eyes – nevertheless shows that the impulse to fellowship is as powerful as a contempt for others and that it, too, fashions the heaven’s justice (This shows karma)

  • The Wheel of Fortune turns. You’re at the top, then you’re on the bottom.

  • Everyone gets what they deserve. Lear got punished for his flaws, Gloucester gets punished, and so does Cornwall.

  • As the play continues, the virtuous characters and the evil characters start to become more balanced because at the beginning of the play, all the good characters are banished or pretend to be different people, but now people who are bad are also getting punished now.

  • In his repudiation of his master’s brutality, the servant echoes Kent’s rebellion against Lear’s injustice to Cordelia in Act 1, Scene 1. The second and third servant at the end of the scene reinforce the first servant’s actions and thereby establish goodness as a shared human quality rather than one lone man’s particular quirk

  • Brutal as this scene may be, it is also a pure example of the classical dramatic pattern of reversal and revelation. While Gloucester suffers a reversal of fortune by being blinded, he is also woefully enlightened when Regan corrects his misapprehensions about his sons.

    • The word Reversal means a change in someone’s position, it is often a negative switch.

    • This not only applies to Gloucester, it also applies to Lear (Lear goes into rock bottom and starts to care about others like how he treated the poor people to poorly when it was still the leading

Act 4 Scene 1

• “The lowest and most dejected thing of Fortune, Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear.” (4.1.3-4) - Edgar

  • We start this entire act with Edgar being hopeful, since he felt his problems weren’t as bad as Lear’s.

• An old man that lived on Gloucester’s estate is leading Gloucester, trying to help him lead him. Gloucester is blinded and is the enemy of the lord and lady of the land. This practically makes him useless, since helping him would mean going against the leaders.

• “But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee, Life would not yield to age.” (4.1.11-12) - Edgar

  • Edgar starts off with some hope just to immediately get sent to the bottom as he sees his father completely blind. He says “All these strange mutations from life makes us hate it, as it wears us down”

• The Old Man wants to help and Gloucester wants the old man to leave so the old man won’t get discovered and punished

• Passage (O my good lord… I’d say I had eyes again)

  • The ability of True Sight means to see life for what it is and see people for who they are. Moral Blindness means that one’s immoral choices hold them back from true sight.

  • Gloucester understands the difference now: “I stumbled when I saw.” Now, blinded, he sees more clearly. Gloucester speculates that Our very resources make us careless. “Our means secure us.” 

  • At the same time, our “defects” can become our commodities,” or advantages. As Bevington notes, “Gloucester perceives, as does Lear, that adversity is paradoxically of some benefit, since prosperity had previously caused him to be so spiritually blind

  • Finally, Gloucester reveals his love for Edgar and begs forgiveness. If only he could “see” his son – even by touching him– he would truly once again have vision: “I’d say I had eyes again.” Edgar, significantly, he hears the entire passage, standing nearby disguised as Tom O’ Bedlam. He steps in and agrees to guide his father to dover

• “Full oft ’tis seen Our means secure us, and our mere defects Prove our commodities. O dear son Edgar, The food of thy abusèd father’s wrath, Might I but live to see thee in my touch, I’d say I had eyes again.” (4.1.20-25) - Gloucester

  • THEME VISION: It has taken a vicious assault to make him see what the truth was. He fears that his realization has come too late. All he wants is to touch his wronged son’s face

• When Gloucester saw Poor Tom in the previous act, Gloucester admits he was reminded of Edgar.

• “O gods, who is ’t can say “I am at the worst”? I am worse than e’er I was.” (4.1.27-28) - Edgar

  • Gloucester’s redemption will come from his son

• Earlier in Act Three, the servants want to let Poor Tom lead the now blind Gloucester, but here we see Gloucester choose Edgar himself. A sign of hope for his forgiveness and redemption

• “Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens’ plagues Have humbled to all strokes.” (4.1.73-75) - Gloucester

  • Inheritance and Justice

  • Here, Gloucester chooses Edgar, and gives him money, which represents inheritance, both are things he originally gave to Edmund.

• “Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man, That slaves your ordinance, that will not see Because he does not feel, feel your power quickly. So distribution should undo excess And each man have enough. ” (4.1.77-81) - Gloucester

  • In this quote we see that Gloucester (like Lear) is on the path to morality (being aware of the needs of others)

  • Everyone should have enough money and shouldn’t just go to the rich.

• “There is a cliff, whose high and bending head Looks fearfully in the confinèd deep. Bring me but to the very brim of it, And I’ll repair the misery thou dost bear With something rich about me. From that place I shall no leading need.” (4.1.83-88) - Gloucester

  • Gloucester has learned to share and give of himself, and now plans to take his own life. The irony is that it is his own son that is leading him to his end/redemption

  • The wheel has turned. Edgar’s life was hunted down by Gloucester, and now Edgar is trying to keep Gloucester alive.

Act 4 Scene 2

• The character of Albany has been lumped in with Goneril at this point, being thought of the same way as Goneril, Regan and Cornwall by the audience. However Albany is acting completely differently. Shakespeare plans to establish Albany acting differently to the others.

• “Madam, within, but never man so changed. I told him of the army that was landed; He smiled at it. I told him you were coming; His answer was “The worse.” Of Gloucester’s treachery And of the loyal service of his son When I informed him, then he called me “sot”” (4.2.4-10) - Oswald

  • This quote shows that Albany is starting to see through Goneril, disagreeing with her evil acts

  • We are at Albany’s Palace. Goneril and Edmund have arrived in hopes that they can inform Albany that they will fight together against the French

  • Edmund and Goneril are getting inappropriately close, furthering Goneril’s evil for this possible affair

• Goneril and Regan are determined to fight against France, but they need Albany to agree since he is in charge of Goneril’s troops.

• “Our wishes on the way May prove effects” (4.2.17-18) - Goneril

  • They may have a plan that could get Edmund and Goneril together romantically.

• “If you dare venture in your own behalf – A mistress’s command” (4.2.24-25) - Goneril

  • She wants him to act boldly so that she can be his mistress (wife) - murder

• My most dear Gloucester!... To thee a woman’s services are due; My fool usurps my body.” (4.2.31-35) - Goneril

  • This immoral way of referring to her husband (calls her husband a fool who only uses her body when he doesn’t deserve it) gives the audience another reason to hate Goneril. Goneril disrespects the king, her husband and her father.

• “O Goneril, you are not worth the dust which the rude wind blows in your face.” (4.2.38?) - Albany

  • Albany HATES his wife and finds her revolting

• “She that herself will sliver and disbranch From her material sap perforce must wither And come to deadly use..” (4.2.43-45) - Albany

  • You are like a branch who’s broken off a tree. In this metaphor, Lear is the tree, and she was the branch. She has broken off from her source of life. Albany says Goneril will eventually die after detaching from Lear

  • Albany wants nothing to do with Goneril and her plans

• Albany is an honest character like the other honest characters. Albany says that fate will eventually catch up to Goneril. The wheel of fortune will turn and punish Goneril

• “Milk-livered man, That bear’st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;” (4.2.62-63) - Goneril

  • Goneril emasculates him. You are not a real man. Milk is a symbol of femininity, used to raise children (loving and caring, not what a man is supposed to be)

  • Goneril says Albany is too peaceful, and she’s doing this to make Albany feel like a garbage man and pressure him to send in troops to fight in the war.

  • Anachronism: Jesus said to turn the other cheek and not choose violence. This Christian imagery is another Anachronism.

• Cornwall has died from his wound. Regan is now a widow.

• “This shows you are above, You justicers, that these our nether crimes So speedily can venge. (4.2.95-95) - Albany

  • Albany says this is proof of divine intervention. Cornwall got what was coming to him and so will everyone else

• When Goneril hears the news, she considers it good news and but also bad news

  • If she was ever to go against Regan, the fact that Regan no longer has a husband, Goneril can easily overtake Regan

  • However, with Edmund going back to Gloucester’s estate, Regan may try to start something with Edmund, starting this love-triangle subplot.

• “Ay, my good lord. ’Twas he informed against him And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment Might have the freer course.” (4.2.112-114) - Gentleman

  • As this scene closes, Albany not only sees through Goneril and Regan, he also sees through Edmund as the traitor of Gloucester. Albany vows to get revenge for old Gloucester.

• The love triangle between Regan and Goneril and Edmund shows how Edmund was once just a bastard, has now achieved his goals as the Earl of Gloucester and is the most desired man from the most powerful people in the kingdom.

• Not in this scene but Goneril eventually deceives Albany by making France seem like they are trying to invade and take land away from the kingdom

Act 4 Scene 3

• French Troops have arrived but we learn this interesting detail that the King of France has left. He will not be in the story any longer after this.

  • In Shakespeare’s day France and England were rivals, it would not have worked to have the King of France depicted as a hero who saves the entire play, therefore he is mysteriously called away

• “It seemed she was a queen Over her passion, who, most rebel-like, Fought to be king o’er her.” (4.3.15-17) - Gentleman

  • Shakespeare goes to establish Cordeila’s character. When she heard about Lear’s mistreatment, she didn’t let her emotions take over her and could control them despite how much sorrow it brought her.

  • This establishes her as a true queen and daughter, finding a balance between the two. This proves her as a better ruler than Lear for having control of her emotions, and shows she's better than her sisters as she could show love for her father.

  • The Gentleman muses at how Cordelia is the perfect Queen and daughter, being able to find a balance between the two.

• “It is the stars.  The stars above us govern our conditions, Else one self mate and make could not beget Such different issues.” (4.3.38-41) - Kent

  • It is faith and the universe that blessed Lear with a daughter like Cordelia. How could he have a daughter so different from her sisters?

  • This is an allusion to the old way of life, the way of life that respects the universe and fate, the way of life that Goneril and Edmund want to destroy

• Lear, going in and out, of sanity that he doesn’t want to see Cordelia. He is too ashamed of what he did to Cordelia.

  • Like Gloucester, Lear is bogged down with shame.

Act 4 Scene 4

• The fool is DEAD (not actually but it would be funny) now that Cordelia returns.

• “Alack, ‘tis he! Why, he was met even now As mad as the vexed sea, singing aloud, Crowned with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds, With hardocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckooflowers, Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow In our sustaining corn. A century send forth.” (4.4.1-6) - Cordelia

  • Lear is described as the sea. The sea, like Lear, can be very calm and beautiful or very turbulent and wavy like a storm

  • Cordelia wants to send 100 knights to her father. The knights represent masculinity. This shows that Cordelia is the opposite of her sisters, giving her father 100 knights when her sisters took 100 knights away from Lear

• “All blest secrets, All you unpublished virtues of the earth, Spring with my tears” - Cordelia

  • Lear might get better if he gets rest, says the doctor

  • Cordelia prays to divine power to use her tears on the earth to help her father out. This shows Cordelia to be completely selfless and forgiving. Her sisters are selfish in comparison. Cordelia being forgiving to Lear is also surprising. She is shown to undo all the problems her sisters have done

• “O dear father, It is thy business that I go about. Therefore great France My mourning and importuned tears hath pitied. No blown ambition doth our arms incite, But love, dear love, and our aged father’s right. Soon may I hear and see him.” (4.4.26-33) - Cordelia

  • She is established as a messianic figure (uh oh she gonna get crucified). She is selfless, forgiving, and cares about others. She also wants to do her father’s will.

  • “No blown ambition” means France has no interest to take any land, only there for Lear and peace.

  • The King of France isn’t here and Cordelia is risking her life for her father

  • Her virtue is on full display as she clearly states that she is not here for political gain, but only the love of her father, as she invokes Jesus himself

Act 4 Scene 5

• We see Regan with Oswald (Goneril’s servant). Regan knows that Goneril has a letter from Edmund, but Regan tries to convince Oswald to not give the letter. Oswald doesn’t plan on falling for the plan though

• “Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. It was great ignorance, Gloucester’s eyes being out, To let him live. Where he arrives he moves All hearts against us. (4.5.11-13) - Regan

  • Regan realizes that their evil nature is slowly being revealed as old man Gloucester is being seen around on his own and the people are feeling bad for him. The people know who did it and are going against them

• Regan says “just give me the letter bro I know Goneril doesn’t like her husband” but Oswald tries to refuse as he remains loyal to Goneril.

• Regan is like “look man I lost my husband but Goneril still has one, Edmund is better for me” to convince Oswald

• “My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talked,  And more convenient is he for my hand Than for your lady’s. You may gather more. If you do find him, pray you, give him this, And when your mistress hears thus much from you, I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her. (4.5.34-39) - Regan

  • Regan tells Oswald to give a letter and gift to Edmund and give another letter to Goneril, and also to kill Gloucester if he were to come across him in order to get an award.

  • Oswald has 3 letters total, the two that Regan gave, and the one from Goneril to Edmund. The important info is that Oswald has some incriminating evidence of all the lords.

Act 4 Scene 6 *

• Edgar is leading Gloucester to a “cliff” but won’t be taking him to an actual cliff to make sure Gloucester doesn’t die. Edgar is making it so that when Gloucester jumps, he’s going to deceive Gloucester to make him think he miraculously survived after jumping off the “cliff”

• Edgar starts speaking like himself instead of Poor Tom, Gloucester notices this and asks why Poor Tom is speaking differently. Edgar just calls Gloucester crazy and he isn’t speaking differently

• Gloucester hands Edgar another purse for leading him to a cliff

• “Why I do trifle thus with his despair Is done to cure it.” - Edgar (4.6.42-43)

  • Edgar knows he’s doing something a bit wrong by manipulating his blind father, so this line let’s the audience know that Edgar is aware and for his father’s own good.

• “If Edgar live, O, bless him!” - Gloucester (4.6.50)

  • We see Gloucester’s remorse as he jumps to his death for Edgar. He doesn’t say anything about Edmund, showing he knows his revelation of Edgar being good and Edmund being evil

  • Edgar will now play a different persona as an eye witness of Gloucester’s suicide. He will say Gloucester lived as a miracle, making him think the gods have spared his life.

• It wouldn’t make sense for Poor Tom to be at the bottom of the cliff afterwards, so that’s why he plays a different persona

• Gloucester doesn’t understand why he hasn’t died and is upset that he couldn’t even kill himself.

• When Eye Witness asked what led Gloucester to his death, Gloucester said it was a beggar. Eye Witness said that it wasn’t a poor beggar but the devil himself trying to lead him to suicide. Eye Witness claims that Gloucester was spared by the gods and wanted to get revenge on the devil, so Gloucester’s life was saved. Gloucester believes this lie and embraces life.

• In the second part of this scene, we are reunited with King Lear. He’s coming in and out of mental clarity. We see that when he does speak with clarity, he will have a crystal clear understanding of his life and life in general.

• “O, thou side-piercing sight” - Edgar (4.6.104)

  • Anachronism: Jesus was pierced on his side to make sure he was dead.

  • Edgar is basically saying “This is like seeing Lear come back from the dead”

• Although Lear is mad, he starts talking about Press Money (money spent to military), as if he knows a big battle is coming

• “They flattered me like a dog and told me I had the white hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there. To say “ay” and “no” to everything that I said “ay” and “no” to was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once and the wind to make me chatter, when the thunder would not peace at my bidding, there I found ’em, there I smelt ‘em out. Go to. They are not men o’ their words; they told me I was everything. ’Tis a lie. I am not ague-proof.” - Lear (4.6.115-122)

  • Though mad, he understands that in creating an atmosphere where no one was free to criticise him that he lived a lie

  • Lear notices that his daughters’ lied to him for being wise (had white hairs, but had more black hair). He realises he is a human being like everyone else and isn’t special. Lear was more concerned about words than he was about truth. He listened to Goneril and Regan instead of Cordelia. 

  • Lear now realizes that flattery is for dogs.

  • Reversal and Revelation: Kicked out of his own kingdom and became a lunatic, he realises he had too much power and shielded him from reality

• Gloucester is able to recognize Lear without even seeing him. Lear is able to be seen for the first time since beforehand everyone just had to listen to Lear.

  • Shakespeare chose the moment when the King discovers the truth which the whole world is bent on hiding from kings to have Gloucester finally identify him

• Lear also is able to recognize Gloucester as well.

• “What was why cause? Adultery? Thou shalt not die. Die for adultery? No.” (4.6.129-130) - Lear

  • Although Adultery is bad, it’s not enough to die for. Lear says this to Gloucester.

• After the revelation, Lear then goes on a sexist rant.

  • Lear condemns female sensuality, complaining that Edmund, born illegitimate, was better to his father than Lear’s two daughters, conceived between “lawful sheets,” were to him. He associates women with “centaurs,” mythical beasts that he had the torso of a human but the body of a horse. “Hell,” in Shakespeare’s day, was slang for the vagina. Some critics interpret the speech as antifeminist or even antisex; Goddard argues that Shakespeare is making a link between lust and violence: “The horror of this outpouring, augmented as it is by the age of the man, is a measure not more of the part that sex, expressed or suppressed, has played in his life than of the part that ware and power have” Bloom argues that the speech shows how Lear’s authority has eroded in the area where he thought it most absolute: his relationship with his daughters: “Goneril and Regan have usurped authority; their nature is akin to Edmund’s idea of nature, rather than Lear’s, and so the mad king’s revulsion is from nature itself, not an idea but the fundamental fact of sexual difference

  • The image of a centaur is used because it is inhuman. Goneril and Regan acted like beastly animals and not like humans.

  • Lear thought that in his life he had most power in his children, but this was where he had the least amount of power.

• When Lear and Gloucester are reunited in this scene, they realise their mortality and are no more special than any other person.

• “The usurer hangs the cozener. Through tattered clothes small vices do appear. Robes and furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold, And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks. Arm it in rags, a pygmy’s straw does pierce it.” (4.6.178-184) - Lear

  • Shouldn’t whip a prostitute because everyone has their own problems

• “O, matter and impertinency mixed, Reason in madness!” (4.6.192-193) - Edgar

  • Lear is not completely clear as he goes back and forth and he gives what Edgar refers to is Reason in madness

• “I will die bravely like a smug bridegroom. What? I will be jovial. Come, come, I am a king, Masters, know you that?” (4.6.218-220) (Lear)

  • Shakespeare uses this metaphor of a bride and a groom consummating their marriage on a wedding night to show that Lear’s new life will begin, he has a new beginning 

• “A proclaimed prize! Most happy! That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor, Briefly thyself remember; the sword is out That must destroy thee.” (4.6.253-257) - Oswald

  • Oswald jumps out of a bush and tries to kill Gloucester for some of that sweet cash

  • “You were only born to make my pockets wealthier”

• Edgar protects Gloucester by using a stick and kills Oswald (my GOAT)

• “If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body, And give the letters which thou find’st about me To Edmund, Earl of Gloucester. Seek him out Upon the English party.” (4.6.276-279) (Oswald)

  • As Oswald gets killed, he tells Edgar to give the letters he has to Edmund, showing the last thing he cares about is money.

• I know thee well, a serviceable villain, As duteous to the vices of thy mistress As badness would desire (4.6.280-282) - Edgar | “He’s dead: I am only sorry He had no other deathsman.” (4.6.286-287) - Edgar

  • Shakespeare wants to show that Edgar is still one of the good ones despite him killing man. Edgar says “I do not feel bad that Oswald has been killed because he’s a bad man but Edgar feels bad he was the one who had to kill him.”

• In Act 2 Scene 2, Oswald is raised up over Kent as Kent is put into the stocks. Here in Act 4 Scene 6, the wheel has been turned and Oswald has been lowered and killed as Gloucester is raised and has his life spared.

• Edgar takes the letters and reads one of them that shows Goneril’s plan to kill Albany with Edmund.

• “Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many opportunities to cut him off. If your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done if he return the conqueror. Then am I the prisoner, and his bed my jail, from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me and supply the place for your labor. Your (wife, so I would say) affectionate servant, and, for you, her own for venture, Goneril” (4..6.291-299) - Edgar (reading Goneril’s letter)

  • Goneril wants Albany to be killed in battle.

  • Reference to The story of King David. King David wants to have sex with Bathsheba, who’s a married woman. King David puts her husband in a position to die in war so she would be a widow. Then David marries her.

  • In this letter, Goneril reveals herself to be a complete failure as a woman of her time. At this time, a woman is meant to be loyal to her husband and second to her father, and Goneril has shown to fail at both counts. She’s cruel to her father and even crueller to her husband 

  • This also reveals to Edgar that his brother is involved in treason. He doesn’t connect the dots that Edmund betrayed him personally but knows he betrayed their father.

  • If this letter got out, this would end both Edmund and Goneril. 

  • Another scene that mirrors the beginning of the play is Act 1 Scene 2 where Edmund creates a fake letter that would destroy his brother. We remember that the letter said that Edgar wanted to kill Gloucester. This new letter not only real but is about how Edmund will attempt to kill Albany. It can only destroy Edmund if it gets in the right hands

• “The King is mad. How stiff is my vile sense That I stand up and have ingenious feeling Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract. So should my thoughts be severed from my griefs, And woes, by wrong imaginations, lose The knowledge of themselves.” (4.6.308-313) - Gloucester

  • Gloucester acknowledges Lear is mad, and wishes he himself was insane as he still has to deal with the pain he caused Edgar.

  • This is the last major important scene with Gloucester. Even though he was reunited with his son and his life was saved, he doesn’t know it’s Edgar and leaves off on a sad note dealing with his pain of his mistakes.

• What does Lear realize ***** (ON TEST)

  • Not a king that cared about the poor and he could’ve done more for those in need (In Storm)

  • That he can’t judge others without judging yourself (With Gloucester now)

  • The rich and wealthy can create a barrier to protect them of the consequences of their sins but they always have to face it (With Gloucester now)

Act 4 Scene 7

• Cordelia and Kent are reunited. At the start of the play all the good characters were separated but as the play progressed, they are getting closer together.

• Coredelia sings her praises to Kent.

• “Pardon, dear madam. Yet to be known shortens my made intent. My boon I make it that you know me not Till time and I think meet.” (4.7.10-13) - Kent

  • Cordelia tries to give Kent a uniform so Kent is no longer seen as a commoner and as the position he once was before banishment. Kent refuses as it may reveal his identity and reveal Lear’s location since Kent is Lear’s advisor. This shows Kent’s selflessness as he cares about being loyal to Lear.

• Lear appears in a bed sleeping. Cordelia kisses Lear’s sleeping body to show forgiveness.

• “O, you kind gods, Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature! Th’ untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up, Of this child-changèd father!” (4.7.16-19) - Cordelia

  • Cordelia speaks this crucial but somewhat obscure prayer over her sleeping father. While she prays for Lear’s health, she also prays that his mind be healed. The last time she saw Lear was on the day that he called her his”sometime daughter” and banished her from the kingdom with insults and curses. Cordelia acknowledges that within Lear’s nature is a breach or chasm that inhibits his ability to see clearly and make good decisions.

  • The prayer reveals that Cordelia sees her father clearly, as she points out the abuse he has suffered, jarring his senses and changing his mind. He is a “child-changed father” in two ways. First, he is changed by Goneril and Regan and the abuse they dealt him. This abuse has humbled Lear and changed him. Lear is also changed by his interaction with Cordelia. Cordelia’s prayer foreshadows the powerful interaction she has with him in the next few scenes, but it was Cordelia’s plan dealing at the beginning of the play that served to change Lear as well

  • Lear has now been made into a child in 3 different ways. He’s innocent, humble, has true sight, and clear-mind | He’s a better person according to Christianity as he thinks like a child. Lear was then parented and punished by Goneril and Regan. He’s also like a child that he is taken care of and nurtured by Cordelia (and Kent too but we do not care)

• “O, my dear father, restoration hang Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss Repair those violent harms that my two sisters Have in thy reverence made.” (4.7.31-34) - Cordelia

  • Cordelia wants to repair all the pain Lear went through from her sisters with her own love. She wants to restore for the wrong Regan and Goneril put him through

  • Messianic Figure: Cordelia is forgiving, selfless (thinks about others), sacrificial (willing to sacrifice her life for her father)

• “Tis wonder that thy life and wits has not concluded at all” (4.7.45-46) - Cordelia

  • It’s a miracle that Lear has survived this far. Edgar says the same that Gloucester survived too. Shakespeare wants to show that Lear and Gloucester are living on borrowed time so they can learn their lessons before they die.

• Lear wakes up and believes he died and is being brought back to life. He feels like a part of him is in hell (wheel of fire) and the other part is in heaven (soul in bliss) because he sees an angel (Cordelia).

• Lear is in disbelief that he isn’t dead, pricking his head to see if he’s actually alive

  • This is appointed to another instance of the fact they are still on borrowed time.

• “O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hand in benediction o’er me. No, sir, you must not kneel.” (4.7.65-67) - Cordelia

  • Cordelia attempts to kneel to Lear as a sign of true forgiveness and Lear tries to kneel before Cordelia. Cordelia stops Lear from kneeling before her as it is disorder that the king/father kneels before his daughter

  • Nearing the start of the play, Lear was forced to kneel to his daughters, showing disorder. Cordelia restores order by stopping Lear from kneeling. 

• Lear and Cordelia are reunited at the French camp; Cordelia reveals the strength of her characters, and blessed by her forgiveness, Lear emerges out of his mad fog. More than illustrating disapproval of how her sisters treated their father, this passage reveals Cordelia’s great love for Lear, even after she has suffered shame and injustice at this hands. Even if Lear had not been the father of Goneril and Regan, he deserved to be pitied if only by virtue of his age and station. He did not deserve to be cast aside with swine and vagabonds. The passage also illustrates that Cordelia understands her father’s painful odyssey, as when she observes that it is a “wonder” that he has survived at all.

• When Lear wakes, he first believes he is at the wheel of fire, a torture device for those condemned to death.  When he calls her a spirit, Cordelia believes that her father is still “wide,” or insane. Paradoxically, however, Lear’s mind is actually sounder than it ever was, certainly sounder than in the play’s beginning, when he disinherited Cordelia and exiled Kent. Lear’s admission of ignorance (a foolish fond old man) is evidence of his transformation. From a prideful and arrogant king, Lear now recognizes his frailty “as his mind begins to break, truth begins to break in.

  • Lear learns to respect Cordelia and see her as a heavenly figure in his life

  • Lear learns the truth about himself, calling himself a fool and an old man, not an omnipotent god.

• “ Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not. If you have poison for me, I will drink it. I know you do not love me, for your sisters Have, as I do remember, done me wrong. You have some cause; they have not.” (4.7.81-85) - Lear

  • Lear understands that he has done wrong to Cordelia and believes he deserves punishment from Cordelia. He believes he doesn’t deserve to drink poison from Goneril and Regan, but Cordelia has a reason to be upset at Lear, and says he’s willing to die

  • Cordelia is merciful. When someone deserves punishment, you choose not to give the punishment, you provide mercy on him.

  • Lear is able to clearly think again and recognizes Cordelia, admitting that he should want him dead, that she has “Cause”. To which she responds “No Cause, no cause” (4.7.86)

• Edmund has taken over Cornwall’s troops, getting closer to his goal of the entire kingdom.

• “ My point and period will be throughly wrought, Or well, or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought. (4.7.111-112) - Kent

  • Kent accepts his fate as he goes into battle (Sacrifice).

Act 5 Scene 1

• “But have you never found my brother’s way To the forfended place?” (5.1.12-13) - Regan

  • Regan asks if Edmund slept with Goneril. This would be very surprising to the audience as a woman asking if a man has slept with someone. This continues to show that the women in this play don’t follow the role of a woman at the time

  • Edmund says he didn’t sleep with Goneril by his “honour” which is interesting because Edmund has no honour, so he probably got his rocks off

• “I had rather lose the battle than that sister Should loosen him and me.” (5.1.21-22) - Goneril

  • These quotes show immaturity and act like children. Goneril would rather lose the battle than to not have Edmund.

• “For this business, It touches us as France invades our land, Not bolds the King, with others whom, I fear, Most just and heavy causes make oppose.” (5.1.27-30) - Albany

  • Albany says they will only fight to stop France from invading the land. He is not fighting against Lear. Albany understands that the other good characters (Kent, Edgar, Cordelia, Gloucester) will want to attack us and deserve to be mad.

• Just before they are about to fight, Edgar goes to Albany to give him the letter of the plan of Goneril and Edmund’s plan to kill Albany

• “Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. If you have victory, let the trumpet sound For him that brought it. Wretched though I seem, I can produce a champion that will prove What is avouchèd there. If you miscarry, Your business of the world hath so an end, And machination ceases. Fortune love you.” (5.1.46-52) - Edgar

  • Edgar says Albany shall blow the horn three times if Britain were to win the war to have someone to protect him from being attacked

  • Read the letter before the battle. Blow the trumpet 3 times to have Edmund challenged by Edgar to protect Albany.

• Edgar doesn’t stick around to read the letter. Unlike Goneril and Regan who are nosy, Edgar doesn’t care and trusts in fate.

• “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.” (5.1.72-77) - Edmund

  • Edmund makes a stark speech that he plans on killing any of the sisters that he isn’t with. He plans on killing Albany for his land

  • Edmund also doesn’t plan on showing mercy on Lear or Cordelia and will take them prisoner and probably kill them

Recap of Act 4 Scene 6 to Act 5 Scene 1:

• Act 4 Scene 6: This scene is packed with drama in the form of deception, reversal, reunion, and violence

  • Deception: Edgar lies to Gloucester that he fell a high cliff

  • Reversal: Lear was at the top of his kingdom but is now a lunatic. Oswald was also slain after being brought to the top

  • Reunion: Lear and Gloucester is reunited

  • Violence: Oswald was slain by Edgar

• Act 5 Scene 1: Edgar tells Albany IF he wins, he must blow the trumpet 3 times for Edgar to send a champion to prove the letter is true.

  • Edmund describes the sisters as venomous snakes

  • The act of fighting and risking his life to sacrifice for what is right is a heroic act from Edgar. The letter being given is a symbol that things are going to change

Act 5 Scene 2

• As the battle rages on, Lear is with Cordelia, and Edgar enters with his father

• “Away, old man. Give me thy hand. Away. King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta’en. Give me thy hand. Come on!” (5.2.6-8) - Edgar

  • As Edgar speaks to his father, we learn that the battle has gone in the favour of Albany and Edmund. Lear and Cordelia have been captured and in prison.

  • When Gloucester hears the war has been lost, he goes back to his suicidal thoughts and wants to just rot there.

• “What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure Their going hence even as their coming hither. Ripeness is all. Come on..” (5.2.10-12) - Edgar

  • Edgar says SNAP OUT OF IT. He tells Gloucester will die when his time comes.

  • This is a connection to natural order. Kent, Edgar and Cordelia represent a respect for Natural Order

Act 5 Scene 3 *

• In the victorious British camp, Lear and Cordelia are prisoners

• “We are not the first Who with best meaning have incurred the worst. For thee, oppressèd king, I am cast down. Myself could else outfrown false Fortune’s frown. Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?” (5.3.4-8) - Cordelia

  • She shows control of her emotions, and remains collected. “Hey, we're not the first to be in this situation.”

  • She’s not disappointed about her fate, she feels bad about Lear’s fate. This shows the selflessness of Cordelia. She proposes to talk to the sisters for Lear, and not for her.

  • Lear refuses to let Cordelia to do so, he’s happy that he’s with Cordelia. It’s enough for him and he doesn’t care about how he's a prisoner.

• “We two alone will sing like birds i’ th’ cage. When thou dost ask me blessing, I’ll kneel down And ask of thee forgiveness.” (5.3.10-12) - Lear

  • At the beginning of the play, Lear doesn’t understand the value of his relationship with Cordelia, now he does and it’s the only thing he cares about.

  • Order is restored. Lear asks for forgiveness, and Cordelia will get a blessing

• Lear says they can be happy on the sidelines. He recognizes that he doesn’t need to be the ruler anymore, he’s willing to just watch as he can be happy with his daughters

  • This revelation is big as he understands the value of healthy relationships over the position of powers.

  • He rather enjoys his time with Cordelia than have her beg or fight for the false life that he has left behind, he is calm and says that there is no need to cry. Cordelia has saved Lear. Edgar had saved Gloucester in the previous scene

• Edmund takes a captain to the side and gives him instructions in a letter, another sign of change. He gives the captain a possible job, and since the captain is desperate for a job, he accepts it. The captain is given a job to kill Cordelia and Lear

  • They want Cordelia’s death to look like suicide.

• Albany sees Edmund asking to see Lear and Cordelia. Edmund tells Albany that he put them in prison

• “Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Not as a brother.” (5.3.68-70) - Albany

  • Edmund overstepped a boundary as he’s not the Duke of Cornwall and doesn’t have the authority to do that. Albany is sick of Edmund acting a person that he isn’t

  • Albany has read the letter before the battle and knows Edmund and Goneril’s plan. He’s holding onto the information until they piss him off.

• Goneril and Regan are fighting in front of Albany for Edmund.

• “General, Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony. Dispose of them, of me; the walls is thine. Witness the world that I create thee here My lord and master.” (5.3.89-92) - Regan

  • Regan is proposing right in front of Goneril to Edmund. Goneril would rather lose everything than lose Edmund, and she reacts poorly.

• Albany sees this and calls Edmund a BASTARD, half-blooded LOSER.

• Albany is done and calls to arrest Edmund and Goneril for treason. 

  • He also knows that Goneril had an affair with Edmund and jokes to Regan that the marriage can’t go on because Edmund and Goneril were together.

• Regan feels sick. Goneril has poisoned Regan.

• Albany asserts his masculinity even more by calling for the champion to fight Edmund. However, if the champion doesn’t appear, Albany is willing to fight Edmund to the death, one-on-one.

• “Trust to thy single virtue, for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took their discharge.” (5-3-125-127) - Albany

  • Albany asserts his masculinity as a man by taking the plan on his own. Albany also bought all of Edmund’s troops so Edmund can’t be protected.

• The herald plays the trumpet three times and Edgar appears as the champion, a third persona. He is dressed as a masked knight

• “thou art a traitor, False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father, Conspirant ’gainst this high illustrious prince” (5.3.161-163) - Edgar

  • Edgar pulls the veil off of Edmund and publicly claims that Edmund has betrayed society, his brother and his father.

  • The Wheel of Fortune has turned where Edmund had everyone fooled, but now he no longer has this false screen and sees Edmund for who he is.

• Edgar tells Edmund to admit he’s a traitor or else they will have to fight. Edmund denies it and they fight.

• We see the wheel of fortune and heavenly dispensation as Edmund is mortally wounded.

• “Save him, save him!” - Albany

  • Albany doesn’t want Edmund dead and Edgar doesn’t finish the job. Shakespeare stopping Edgar from killing Edmund is another way Shakespeare makes us like Edgar.

• “This is practice, Gloucester. By th’ law of war, thou wast not bound to answer An unknown opposite. Thou art not vanquished, But cozened and beguiled” (5.3.181-184) - Goneril

  • Goneril questions why Edmund would fight this random in the first place since he didn’t have to fight at all. Edmund was manipulated and tricked into the fight.

  • This mirrors Act 2 Scene 1, Edgar was tricked into a sword fight with Edmund.

  • Everything is going full circle, like the wheel of fortune. 

• Goneril is done since Edmund is dead. The letter exposed the affair and her plan of treason. Goneril tries to grab the letter but Albany isn’t giving it up.

• “Say if I do; the laws are mine, not thine. Who can arrange me for ‘t” (5.3.189-190) - Goneril

  • Goneril claims she’s above the law. This reflects how Lear was when he believed he was above the law

  • This shows that Goneril has learned nothing. She is just like her father from the start of the play which makes her a true villain

  • Goneril is desperate and runs away. Albany sends an officer to make sure Goneril doesn’t try to kill her.

• Edmund has no options, he admits defeats and everything he’s done. Edgar reveals to Edmund and everyone else that he was the one that fought Edmund.

• “ Th’ hast spoken right. ’Tis true. The wheel is come full circle; I am here.” (5.3.208-209) - Edmund

  • Edmund has been against faith, the wheel of fortune, and the gods for the whole play, believing he could take his life into his own hands. He admits that there is a universal balance and he was wrong to challenge fate. He’s been defeated by his brother, Albany, and society.

• Off stage, Edgar reveals the truth of his identity to Gloucester, asking for his blessing to fight Edgar. Gloucester feels Edgar’s face, fulfilling his last wish to feel Edgar again and dies from a heart attack after being overcome with joy.

  • Gloucester’s death happens offstage to (1) not take attention away from Lear and (2) to not give an adulterer a celebratory death scene.

  • We hear that Gloucester is dead and that he died smiling.

• Offstage, Kent revealed his identity to Edgar and talked about everything he has done to Lear.

• While Edgar was speaking, Regan has died from the poison from Goneril and Goneril has successfully killed herself. Goneril is the only suicide in the play.

  • The play is about order and disorder. Suicide is a part of disorder, throwing away the gift of life in God’s face. Goneril shows even more disorder than just her behaviour to her father and husband.

• “I was contracted to them both. All three Now marry in an instant.” (5.3.270-271) - Edmund

  • Edmund was engaged to both of the sisters. The gods will now put them all together in hell.

  • Edmund now respects fate and society.

• “Yet Edmund was beloved. The one the other poisoned for my sake, And after slew herself.” (5.3.287-289) - Edmund

  • For the first time, Edmund finally feels accepted and wanted after seeing Regan and Goneril work so hard for his love. 

  • Edmund changes his mind and tries to warn the others about his scheme to kill Cordelia and Lear in an attempt to right his wrong.

• Edmund’s downfall had many contributions: he was alone without troops, the letter was exposed, and he was manipulated into fighting Edgar.

• Edmund dies offstage, he’s not afforded a stage death as Shakespeare doesn’t want the audience to feel too bad about him

• Cordelia was killed, but they made it in time for Lear to survive. Lear is going crazy, praying that she’s alive but also going into clarity every now and then to admit that she’s dead.

• Lear is in denial if she’s dead. He wants a mirror to see if it fogs up from Cordelia’s body to prove she’s alive. The mirror is symbolic that he saw Cordelia for who she really was.

• “I killed the slave that was a-hanging thee” - Lear

  • Lear killed the soldier who hung Cordelia. Lear was acting as a father for once. When his child was harmed, he took action. He took an act as a king as well, seeing an injustice in his kingdom and stood for justice.

  • Lear redeemed himself as a father and king.

• Kent asked Lear where Caius is, which is Kent’s secret identity. Shakespeare gives Kent a chance to be proud of his accomplishments.

• Albany owns both the kingdoms after the war but gives the power of both kingdoms to Lear. Lear has lost Cordelia but gets the kingdom back.

• “All friends shall taste the wages of their virtue, and all foes the cup of their deservings” - Albany

  • The wheel of fortune. Good people will get good things. Bad things will happen to bad people. Bad people will learn their lessons as well.

• “And my poor fool is hanged!” - Lear

  • This is a reference to Cordelia, Shakespeare shows the Fool and Cordelia represent the same thing.

• Lear accepts Cordelia is dead. He completely ignores the fact that he got his kingdom back.

• Lear asks Edgar to undress him, reflecting the scene when he saw Poor Tom and wanted to undress himself. Lear wants to unburden himself of everything.

• Lear dies of a broken heart. 

• “The wonder is, he hath endured so long. He but usurped his life.” - Kent

  • Lear and Gloucester were on borrowed time, and Kent explicitly says it out loud.

• With Lear dead, Albany gives Kent and Edgar to them since they are virtuous and honest men.

• “I have a journey, sir, shortly to go; My master calls me. I must not say no.” (5.3.390-391)

  • Kent refuses the kingdom, as he’s going to die soon. Kent is the archetype of a Good Servant. When their master dies, they would also die since their job is done. Kent is going to die because Lear is dead, showing he’s a truly good servant to his master, his final act of loyalty.

• Edgar will now lead the kingdom. Edgar pays homage to Lear in the end and treats him with respect. Lear faced the most suffering. Those younger should respect those who are older, whether it’s a parent, elder, or a king. Shut up and listen to your king.