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Character Sketches Lear Lear is an old man, in where his best days have passed. Lear first enters the stage dressed in royal, but as soon as he speaks we discover that he is an orderless old man. Lear wears a proper cloak; the visible signs of royalty are present but the intell Goneril and Regan Two villains, of which Goneril seems perhaps more vicious than her younger sister. They represent evil as a significant part of the play. Kent Kent has been described as one of the fine, plain characters of the play. He is straightforward and brave, and he also has the ability to flatter, he shows a sense of loyalty throughout the play.
Cordelia Cordelia refuses to favor her father in his game of flattery, she disappears. Her character is never well developed. She demonstrates decency and clean honesty in the play full of evil and desire. Gloucester Gloucester's role in the parallel to that of Lear, although Gloucester serves as a model of what can happen if one does not go mad. Edgar Opposite to his brother he is not a villain, but he withholds a good appearance throughout the play. Like his father, Edgar serves as a foil to the main plot.
He is alo's a primary connection between the two plots. At the very end as a loyal son, he is s Edmund The villain of Gloucester's plot, the traitorous evil son, serves as a point in where the two plots cross each other. Cornwall The Duke of Cornwall, Regan's Husband, is the perfect portrait of a public man who has given himself in towards corruption. He gained great place through marriage, and then gave way to his lusts.
He gets what he deserves in the end of the play, death. Albany The husband of Goneril, maintains a considerable dignity throughout the play. He is the loyal Englishman who has accidentally fallen among evil doers. The Fool The Fool serves as a relief, to give the Shakespearean audience delight. Not only is he a wise fool, but he is considerably committed to the side of good. He is a wise fool to teach a king hastening down the road to madness, but he is not, a funny fool.
Minor Characters The King of France and the Duke of Burgandy The Duke of Burgandy is interested in -self-gain rather than love. The King of France on the other hand sees Cordelia as a beautiful woman with the goodness that Lear ignores. Oswald Oswald is an unliked character, supporting Goneril in all of her evil acts. He carries messages between her and Edmund. Act I, Scene I King Lears palace, Britain.
The Earl of Gloucester and the Earl of Kent discuss how Gloucester loves his sons equally, Edmund (the older) the illegitimate; and Edgar. Although he loves both sons, Edgar is his heir. Ling Lear enters and announces that he Act I Scene II The Earl of Gloucester's castle. Edmund introduces his plot to overthrow the claim of his legitimate brother Edgar by giving a letter to Gloucester implying Edgar in scheme of treason against his father. Act I, Scene III The Duke of Albany's palace.
Goneril is irritated with Lears rude, demanding behavior in their home. She instructs Oswald, her steward, to tell her servants to be less serviceable to Lear and his knights. Act I, Scene IV A hall in the Duke of Albany's palace. Kent returns disguised to serve his king faithfully. Within the scene, the Fool shares wisdom to Lear in short telling him that he was a fool to give away his titles and land, placing himself in care of his daughter Act I, Scene V The Duke of Albany's palace. Lear sends his disguised Kent to Regan with letters explaining his side of the argument.
The Fool engages Lear in a verbal battle in which the Fool cautions Lear for his unnatural, un fatherly, unlikely behaviors. Act II, Scene I The Earl of Gloucester's castle. Edmund learns that Regan and the Duke of Cornwall will be at the castle that night, thus setting in motion his new plan to grab hold of his fathers title. Edgar enters.
Edmund creates a plot against his brother and urges Act II, Scene II Before Gloucester's castle. Kent And Oswald enter; they trade insults and blows and are parted by Edmund, Regan, Gloucester, and Cornwall. Cornwall suggests that Kent should be placed in stocks while Gloucester advises against punishment since it would d Act II, Scene III A wood. Edgar realizes that he will have no place of refuge as the traitor son of Gloucester; therefore, he resolves to disguise himself as a madman.
Edgar will become nothing. Act II, Scene IV Before Gloucester's castle with Kent in the stocks. Enter Lear and the Fool to find Kent in the stocks. Lear is angered by Gloucester when he says that Regan and Cornwall will not see the king. Regan and Cornwall finally enter, releasing Kent from the st Act III, Scene I A heath. Still storms.
Kent informs a Gentleman loyal to the king that there is a division between Cornwall and Albany and that France sends an invasion force to England. Act III, Scene II Another part of the heath. Storms maintain their presence. Shouts to the wind about the unnaturalness of daughters turning against his father. The Fool rhymes that Lear has caused all the trouble himself. Kent persuades Lear to take shelter in the shack.
Act III, Scene III Gloucester's castle. Gloucester confides the rift between Cornwall and Albany to Edmund, informs him of the impending French force, and advises him that they must side with Lear. Edmund plots to tell all to Cornwall, hoping to depose Gloucester and gain Act III, Scene IV The heath before a shack. Lear, Kent and the Fool meet Edgar disguised as Poor Tom, a madman and beggar. Lears madness and despair at his situation deepens. Gloucester finds the king and tells him of Goneril's and Regan's commands to lock Lear ou Act III, Scene V Gloucester's castle.
Edmund reveals Gloucester's letters describing support of Lear and the French power to Cornwall. Cornwall grants the Earldom to Edmund who is now referred to as Gloucester by the parties against Lear. Act III, Scene VI A chamber in a farmhouse which is adjoining the castle. Gloucester leaves to find better lodgings than the farmhouse. Lear holds a false trial of the absent Goneril and Regan with Edgar as the Magistrate, the Fool as his partner, and Kent as one commission Act III, Scene VII Gloucester's castle. Cornwall sends servants after the elder Gloucester and sends Goneril and Edmund after the fleeing king.
The elder Gloucester is captured, brought before Cornwall, and interrogated. At Regan's goading, Cornwall attempts to pluck out th Act IV, Scene I The heath. Gloucester is led onto the heath by an old man, where they are met by Edgar (still disguised as Poor Tom). At Gloucester's urgings, Edgar agrees to lead him high cliff at Dover. Act IV, Scene II Before the Duke of Albany's palace. Oswald reports to Goneril and Edmund that Albany has changed his mind about his wifes ambitions and the plight of the king, expressing displeasures in her actions.
Goneril promises herself to Edmund should Albany not Act IV, Scene III The French camp near Dover. A gentleman informs Kent that the King of France has returned home but has left the Marshal; that Cordelia was moved with tears when she read Kent's letters; and that shame prevents Lear (who is now in Dover) from seeing Code Act IV, Scene IV A tent in the French camp at Dover. Cordelia sends a soldier to find her father to bring him under her doctors care. A messenger tells her that the British Army is advancing towards Dover. Act IV, Scene V Gloucester's castle. Oswald notifies Regan that Albany's army is on the march.
Since Gloucester's condition would rouse public outrage against the sisters reign, thus giving strength to the cause of Cordelia and the French, Regan advises Oswald to post Act IV, Scene VI Fields near Dover. Edgar as Poor Tom pretends to take his father to a cliff edge where Gloucester falls. This is done so Edgar may return to his father as a concerned stranger and so Gloucester may believe himself reborn without the evil spirit Natural man. After some discussion, the King begins the last step of his purification when Gloucester recognizes him as king.
When a gentleman from Cordelia finds Lear, he runs, unwilling to face capture. Oswald enters with the intent to kill Gl Act IV, Scene VII A tent in the French camp. Lear has been dressed again in royal robes and wakes to speak with Cordelia. He asks her forgiveness. A gentleman reveals to Kent that Edmund leads Cornwall's troops. Act V, Scene I A tent in the French camp near Dover.
Edmund sends a gentleman to find what is Albany's mind purpose. Regan questions Edmund about his intent with Goneril. Albany enters with his wife and soldiers. Ina aside, Goneril confesses that she does not want Act V, Scene II A field between the two camps. The French lose the battle, and Cordelia and Lear are taken captive. Act V, Scene III The British camp near Dover.
Edmund imprisons Lear and Cordelia. After they are taken off, Edmund instructs a Captain to hang Cordelia but make it appear to be suicide. Albany, Goneril, and Regan enter. Albany treats Edmund subserviently. Regan and Goner late. Lear enters, carrying dead Cordelia in his arms.
Lear believes that he sees Cordelia breath, after which he dies. There is some question and considerable discussion about Lears emotional state when he dies: joyous in perceiving Cordelia death Chronological Order of Events: O Lear tests his daughters love O Edmund tricks Gloucester into believing Edgar wrote a letter desiring Gloucester's death O The Fool teaches Lear the difference between a sweet and bitter fool O Gloucester restates to Edmund his possession of an incriminating letter O Lear first expresses his fear of madness O Lear curses Goneril and flees to Regan O Kent is placed in the stocks O Regan tells Lear to apologize to Goneril O Cornwall and Regan shut the doors against Lear O Edgar disguises himself as Poor Tom O Lear asks Poor Tom if he gave everything to his daughters O Cornwall promises Edmund the title of Earl O Gloucester is blinded by Cornwall and Regan O Edgar kills Oswald and takes the letter Oswald was to have delivered to Edmund O Edgar saves his father from suicide O Albany condemns Goneril's cruel behavior O Regan is poisoned by her sister O Lear sees the misery of the poor wretches O Lear carries in the body of Cordelia O Lear and Cordelia are reunited Themes O Natural and Unnatural: O Self-knowledge and appearance or reputation O Nothing, nothing binds a daughter to her father; Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again (Lear I, Scene I) Response to King Lear I enjoyed King Lear very much, because I thought that the plays action didnt drag and maintained itself with constant action. The play was full of chaos, conflicts, and semi determined ends.
I believe that the tragedy had a strong influence in the play Metaphors Present: King Lear is replete with metaphors involving animals or metaphors that decode behavior; O Sly as a Fox O Busy as a Bee O How sharper than a serpents tooth (Lear, Act I, Scene 4, line 283) O Shell flay thy wolves visage (Lear, Act I, Scene 4, line 303) O Sharp toothed unkindness, like a vulture, here (Lear, Act II, Scene 4, line 132) O Like rats, oft bite the holy cords again? that in the natures of their lords rebel? Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods? renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks? Knowing naught, like dogs, but following. (Kent, Act II, Scene II, l O She hath abated me of half my train, Look black upon me, struck me with her tongue, most serpent like, upon thy very heart. (Lear, Act II, Scene 4, line 155) O Because I would not see thy cruel nails, pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister, in his anointed flesh rash boarish fangs. (Gloucester, Act III, Scene 7) In grateful fox, tis he. (Regan, Act III, Scene 7, line 29) O Tigers not daughters, what have you performed. (Albany, Act IV, Scene II) O Edmund, I arrest thee on capital treason; and in thy attaint this gilded serpent. (Albany, Act V, Scene III) Imagery (on adjacent papers) Quotations: Love: What shall Cordelia speak?
Love, and be silent. (Cordelia, Act I, Scene I) I am sure my loves more ponderous than my tongue. (Cordelia, Act I, Scene I) Nature: Sure her offense must be of such unnatural degree that monsters it. Though the wisdom of Nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself scourged by sequent effects. Love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide. (I, ii) Hear? Nature suspend thy purpose?
Create her child of spleen, that it may live and be a thwart dis natured torment to her. (I, iv) Seeing how loathly opposite I stood to his unnatural purpose. To be Known: I know what are you and, like a sister, am most loath to call? (I, I) Who is it that can tell me who I am? (I, iv) Why, what a monstrous fellow are thou, thus rail on one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee! (II, ii) Appearances and Sights: Thy youngest daughter not love thee least, nor are those empty hearted whose low sounds reverb no hollowness. (I, I) How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell (I, iv) Nothing: Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again. (Lear, I, I) Away I have nothing to do with thee. (II, ii) I am better than thou art now: I am a Fool, thou art nothing. (I, vi) Nothing. I have sworn. I am firm. (I, I) Thou are in nothing less than I have proclaimed thee. (V, iii) 338
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