King Lear Notes

Act 1, Scene 1
● Kent and Gloucester talk about Lear's decision to divide the kingdom. Gloucester is talking
about the consequences of sin, even though he is close friends with Lear.
○ Gloucester is a close friend of Lear, elevated social stature.
● Edmund is Gloucester's son (not directly, he was responsible for his upbringing).
● Lear enters and confides his true intentions for splitting the kingdom. He wished not to
worry about being old and running a kingdom (succession etc.) Lear gives his daughters an
ultimatum: whichever daughter loves him the most will rule the greatest portion of England.
● Goneril and Regan are married off to nobles, Cordelia is betrothed to the King of France
(have they specified this yet?)
● Goneril and Regan dote upon Lear, Cordelia does not.
● SIDE NOTE: cultural assumptions regarding gender at the time are evident in how Lear
equates the value of his daughters to their husbands (e.g: "our dearest Regan, wife of
Cornwall). Repeated later: "now her price is fall'n" (line 205).
○ Goneril: "I love you more than word can wield the matter; dearer than eyesight,
space and liberty; beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; no less than life, with
grace, health, beauty, honour." (foreshadowing of what she will eventually take from
him).
○ Cordelia: "Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. I love your
Majesty according to my bond; no more, no less."
● Lear gets angry at Cordelia's lack of affection and banishes her from England.
○ "Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her." (the person before me in my book
underlined this so I assume it's important).
● Lear has separated the rest of his kingdom between Goneril and Regan, but said that they
need to look after him, but the rest is theirs.
○ Lear: "Only we shall retain the name, and all the addition to a king; the sway,
revenue, execution of the rest, beloved sons, be yours; which to confirm, this
coronet part between you." (p.32).
○ Lear (in reference to Cordelia): "When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; but
now her price is fall'n. Sir, there she stands. If aught within that little-seeming
substance, or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd, and nothing more, may fitly like
your Grace, she's there, and she is yours." (p.34-36).
○ Lear (in reference to Cordelia): "Thou hast her France. Let her be thine; for we have
no such daughter, nor shall ever see that face of hers again. [to Cordelia] Therefore
be gone without our grace, our love, our benison."
● ↑ Above quotes demonstrates Lear's hamartia (rashness, impulsiveness etc.) ↑
● Regan and Goneril then go on to plot, talking about Lear's favouritism of Cordelia and
calling Lear rash ("unruly waywardness"). They plot his downfall.
● Line 16 refers to the commentary on bastardry that links to the monarchical situation in
England at the time (no blood-relation succession plan).
○ "But I have a son, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dealer in
my account" (line 16, p.20).
● James VI of Scotland is named the new King of England (James I). Question of legitimacy
is the contextual basis of the text.
● Cordelia: "You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I return those duties back as are right fit;
obey you, love you, and most honour you" (lines 93-95, p.26)
 ○ Foreshadows calmer, you get what you deserve, and Lear's unfortunate ending.
● Love:
○ Romantic
○ Filial/Familiar
● Humanist vs feudal values in conflict with each other
● The play operates around this conflict
● James I unifies Great Britain for the first time. Hopes for France (Cordelia)
● Cordelia and Kent = truth
● England hates the French but Scotland is allied with the French - could King James unify
the two?
● King Lear fatal flaw - gets angry after Cordelia tells the truth
● Hecate symbolism associated with night, corroborates other Shakespearean texts and the
night motif symbolising evil (line 109, p.10). Contradicts Lear's reference to Apollo, good vs
evil (line 165). Lear's recovery is also dependent on the sun rising, entrance into peripeteia.
● Leah misreads Cordelia’s honesty as pride:
○ Cordelia: “Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her” (line 130, p.30)
● Line 140 - the sharing of the crown - symbolism and Machiavellianism`
● Lear in reference to Cordelia: "I would not from your love make such a stray to match you
where I hate" (lines 221-222, p.36)
○ Demonstrates Lear's rashness of character, and opposes his initial flattery of his
youngest daughter.
● Cordelia does not have a “still soliciting eye, and such a tongue”, she loses everything (but
still has dignity) - Lear “loses” here according to France
● Foreshadowing - Cordelia: "To your professed bosoms I commit him" (line 289, p.40)
○ implies that the sisters' love of Lear is not genuine and nefariously motivated.
● Foreshadowing - “Never see that face again” motif of blind/sight
● Sight motif - p.32 - Lear: “‘Out of my sight!’, Kent: See better, Lear; and let me still remain
the true blank of thine eye.”
● King Lear’s fatal flaw is hubris—excessive pride. This leads to his downfall
○ "'Tis the infirmity of his age."
○ Lear: "Hysterica passio, down thou climbing sorrow, thy elements below." - (Act II,
scene 4) hysterica passio is an illness associated with women (Shakespeare's
commentary on females, used in conjunction to the misfortunes that follow women
in power).

● Apostrophising the wind - “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks.” - shows the futility and
madness of hte wind - how can he control the weather when he can’t even control his
daughters?
● Shakespeare says that life is ultimately pointless…find rest of quote
https://online.clickview.com.au/libraries/videos/50086830/theme-of-madness

Act 1, Scene 2
● Gloucester's castle, Edmund enters and begins a monologue. He is annoyed that the
illegitimacy of his birth restricts him from having equivalent power to his brother.
● Gloucester enters, dismayed at the political state of the country. He asks Edmund about
this, and when Edmund acts suspiciously regarding a letter, Gloucester presses him into
revealing its contents.
 ● Edmund convinces his father that the note is from Edgar, Edmund's brother, complaining
about his father and how unfair it is that old men should be in power whilst their successors
are forced to wait respectfully until they die.
○ Edmund (in a letter): "I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of
aged tyranny" (p.48).
● Gloucester is surprised at Edgar's (really Edmund's) words, questioning Edmund about
what he knows regarding Edgar's desire to overthrow his father.
● Gloucester requests that Edmund talks to Edgar to convince him against his plan to kill his
father.
● Edmund goes onto another monologue, blaming the world for his shortcomings instead of
himself. However, he acknowledges that people only blame the world when things are
going badly, so he jokingly says:
○ Edmund: "my nativity was under ursa major, so that it follows, I am rough and
lecherous.
● Edmund pretends that Edgar wrote the letter to villanise his brother and tilt the scales in his
favour.
● Edgar enters. Edmund convinces him that what he wrote in the letter will happen out of fate
rather than by Edmund's hand.
○ Edmund (referring to astrology): 'I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed
unhappily; as of unnaturalness between the child and the parent, death, dearth,
dissolutions of ancient amities, divisions in the state, menaces and maledictions
against king and nobles…" (p.56).
○ ↑ Foreshadows Edumund's murder of his father ↑
● Disrespect of older generations/authority in this family situation reflects the situation with
KIng Lear and his daughters undermining his authority.
● Gloucester: "These late eclipses in the sun and moon portent no good to us. Though the
wisdom of nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself scourg'd by the sequent
effects" (p.52, lines 96-99). Contextual to the series of eclipses that occurred at the time,
with astrologists trying to extract meaning from them. The solar events could also
foreshadow Lear’s descent into madness.
● Edmund: "An admirable evasion of whoremaster man, to lay this goatish disposition on the
charge of a star" (p.54, line 117-119). Nature/supernatural motif informing fate.
● Edmund: “I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed unhappily; as of unnaturalness
between the child and the parent, death, dearth, dissolutions of ancient amities, divisions in
state, menaces and maledictions against king and nobles…” (p.56, lines 133-136) -
foreshadowing and symbolism.

Task 1.1 - 18/07/23

8 Point Summary:
1) Edmund, Gloucester's illegitimate son, opens with a monologue expressing his hate for his
situation as the inferior son.
2) Edmund plans to present a letter plotting against his father as if his brother, Edgar, had written it.
3) Gloucester enters, questioning the political state of the world and in utter confusion at King
Lear's rashness.
4) Gloucester notices Edmund's letter, and asks to see it. Edmund refuses at first, setting
Gloucester up to be deceived.
5) Edmund finally reveals the contents of the letter, positioning Gloucester to believe that Edgar
had written it.
6) As the letter suggests that Edgar is plotting against Gloucester as he believes that old men
should not be in power, Gloucester is outraged and in disbelief that Edgar would believe such a
thing.
7) Edmund attempts to convince Gloucester that Edgar would never write such a thing,
strengthening the believability of Edmund's plot as the innocent bystander. Gloucester is convinced
to think rationally, giving Edgar a chance to prove that he is not evil; however, Edmund hints that
the handwriting matches with Edgar's and that Edgar has conveyed similar views in the past,
further angering Gloucester.
8) Edgar enters, the brothers discuss the strangeness of the recent eclipses. The scene ends with
Edmund laughing about how gullible Gloucester is and how innocent Edmund is, foreshadowing
the later success of his plan.

Q1: What is the contextual reason for Edmund’s obsession with bastardry?
● He seeks power, and is unhappy with his ‘lot’ in life. He’s trying to improve his situation
● Situation with Elizabeth I and James VI, perhaps James was facing backlash from the
English public about his illegitimacy as heir to the English throne.
● Edmund represents the Humanist viewpoint - once can improve their social situation -
upward social mobility, whereas Edgar represents the feudalist view of the time.

Q2: Feudal/Jacobean society holds in high regard the concept of ‘Filial Piety’. How does
Edmund challenge this concept?
● Edmund challenges the concept through his scheming against his brother and father, and
his complete disregard for his family. He lies to his father, which is in direct opposition to the
respect inherent in the concept of filial piety—one should be honest at all times to their
parents. Edmund also challenges this concept through his destruction for the Natural Order,
and the Great Chain of Being.

Shakespeare sees everyone as equal in their shared humanity - everyone is going to live and die -
everybody has their own faults.

Task 1.2 - 14/06/23

The historical reasons for the emphasis on 'bastardry' and 'legitimacy'.
Written during the Jacobean era, commenting on James I's kingship in England out of election
rather than blood succession as Elizabeth the I had no heirs.
● "Shakespeare filtered Edmund the Bastard through the figure of stigma he had used on
earlier stigmatics, such as the physically deformed Richard III and the racially marked
Aaron the Moor. The figure of stigma is the configuration of abnormality, villainy, irony, and
tragicomedy."
● https://wilson.fas.harvard.edu/stigma-in-shakespeare/edmund%E2%80%99s-bastardy#:~:t
ext=King%20Lear%2C%201.2.1%2D22&text=For%20his%20part%2C%20Shakespeare%2
0filtered,villainy%2C%20irony%2C%20and%20tragicomedy.
● Going against the divine right of kings, can be ties back to illegitimate children as they are
'sinful'

Act 1, Scene 3 Summary

● Goneril is complaining about her father still exercising the power he gave away to her and
Regan (Lear disrupting the natural order as Goneril is now queen).
 ● Goneril instructs the palace staff to act lazy and disobedient around Lear to provoke an
argument.
○ "Put on what weary negligence you please, you and your fellows; I'd have it come to
question" (p.60, lines 12-13).
● Goneril intends to involve her sister in the matter so that their power together exceeds
Lear's.
● Goneril is getting the soldiers to disobey Lear. She is also shifting the responsibility to
Regan.
○ "If he distates it, let him answer to my sister."

Act 1, Scene 4
● Interaction between Lear and Kent - Kent is disguised as a common man to serve Lear and
win back his loyalty after Kent was banished.
● Leah is experiencing a noticeable drop of loyalty from palance staff, including the loss of his
fool for several days.
● SIDE NOTE: "Your highness is not entertain'd with ceremonious affection as you were
wont." (line 53, p.68).
○ Ceremonious affection = affection toward someone out of status rather than love (a
commoner's love for a monarch).
● When the fool (Oswald) does arrive, Lear mistreats him, despite what Goneril said. Oswald
stands up to this, "I will not be stuck", however, Lear continues to abuse him as if he were
still king.
● The fool sings Lear a song for entertainment, but there is underlying advice about
conserving his kingship and the respect of staff etc. Basically saying that Lear is an idiot for
giving away his land.
○ "Nothing can be made out of nothing" (line 120, p.76)
○ Mini Task: What is the importance of the concept of 'nothingness'?: Foreshadows
Lear's future of having nothing, everything being taken from him by his daughters.
Lear loses everything – his status, his family, his mind – Lear learns the value of
Cordelia's Nothing, my lord (I. 1.87). Her refusal to participate in the love-test sets
off the whole disastrous chain of events.
● Egg motif suggests that by splitting the crown you are destroying it, much like by breaking
the shell of an egg, you weaken it (pp.76-78).
● "I have used it, nuncle, e'er since thou mad'st thy daughters thy mothers" (line 157, p.68).
● "Where are his eyes?" foreshadowing (line 212, p.82)
● "As you are old and reverend, should be wise. Here do you keep a hundred knights and
squires, men so disorder'd, so debauched and bold, that this our court, infected with their
manners, shows like a riotous inn" (line 225-229, p.82).
● “O most small fault, how ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!” (pg 84 line 254-255) -
anagnorisis
● Old fond eyes pg 88 - more eye stuff
● “Who is it than can tell me who I am?” “Lear’s shadow” (p.82 line 215-216) - foreshadowing
Lear’s downfall - becomes a shadow of his former self.
● Goneril enters, angered by Lear's behaviour.
○ Goneril: "But now grow fearful, by what yourself too late have spoke and done, that
you protect this course and put it on by your allowance; which if you should, the fault
would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep." (p.82).
● Lear refuses to listen to Goneril's disapproval and plans to leave angrily.
 ○ Lear: "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child" (p.86)
● Albany, Goneril's husband, enters, attempting to calm Lear down.
● Lear continues his fit of anger: "I am asham'd that thou hast power to shake my manhood
thus" (p.87).
● Lear storms off. Goneril appeals to her husband for defence, who says that he is not
swayed by Leah's speech because he loves her too much.
● Goneril dismisses Oswald, telling him to follow Leah as he is more of a trouble maker than
jester.
● Before leaving, Oswald sings a song warning Goneril of her harshness toward Lear,
suggesting that she is risking death, foreshadowing her suicide. - perhaps she commit
suicide to ensure that no power was put back in Lear's hands, and that she dies at her own
hand rather than her father's (lines 307-312, p.88).
● Albany: “Trying to make something better, we often ruin what’s already good” (lines
338-339, pg. 92) - foreshadowing
● Switching of gender roles— misgendered people - weak, effeminate subservient King and
the queens hold all the power
● SIDE NOTE: Lear foreshadows the end by saying things such as: 'then pluck my eyes out'
and by referring to his blindness (p.82).

Task 2.0 - 15/06/23

1) Character of the fool:
Comic relief but is also used to foreshadow endings and war Lear of his rash actions.
Could echo the narrator’s voice.

Task 2.1 - 19/07/23

9 point summary:
1. Kent plans to reacquire Lear's loyalty by disguising himself as another servant following his
banishment.
2. Lear is sceptical, but willing to accept Kent as a new servant seeing as he has lost the support of
many of his palace staff.
3. Lear demands dinner, but finds that he is getting a bad reception from his staff (staff following
Goneril's orders of being lazy).
4. Lear demands to know why this is happening, asking a knight what is happening. Still somewhat
loyal to Lear, the knight explains the situation.
5. Upset, Lear demands to see his fool, who is demonstrating the same disrespect as the other
palace staff (Oswald claims that Lear is now merely "my lady's father").
6. Kent attempts to win back Lear's loyalty by defending him against the disrespect of the fool.
7. Oswald starts warning Lear of his potential future, using songs and the egg metaphor.
8. Concept of nothingness is introduced, foreshadowing Lear's future.
9. Goneril enters, telling Lear off for his poor governing of palace staff. Lear verbally abuses
Goneril for her disrespect, Albany does not step in to defend; however he reaffirms his love for his
wife, validating her position in power.

2) What is a peripeteia and how is it furthered here?

A peripeteia is a sudden change or reversal in fortune. It is furthered in this chapter through Lear’s
slow realisation that he no longer holds the power or respect that he once did. As the scene
progresses, Lear gets scolded by his daughters and threatened by them for a seemingly trivial
action. This highlights the lack of power and the disruption of the social hierarchy, as the daughters
normally are always subservient to their father, nevertheless the King.

4) How is the theme of “service” demonstrated here?

Demonstrated by the fool - being told to follow Lear by the queen and he follows her command with
blind unfaltering obedience.

5) What truths does the fool tell?

● Foreshadows Goneril's suicide: Before leaving, Oswald sings a song warning Goneril of her
harshness toward Lear, suggesting that she is risking death, foreshadowing her suicide. -
perhaps she commit suicide to ensure that no power was put back in Lear's hands, and that
she dies at her own hand rather than her father's (lines 307-312, p.88).
● Oswald uses the egg motif to represent Lear's loss of power through division of authority.
He suggests that by splitting the crown you are destroying it, much like by breaking the
shell of an egg, you weaken it (pp.76-78).
● Oswald also sings Lear a song for entertainment, but there is underlying advice about
conserving his kingship and the respect of staff etc. Basically saying that Lear is an idiot for
giving away his land.
● Oswald also refusing to be struck ("I will not be stuck") represents Lear's loss of authority
over palace staff, foreshadowing the concept of nothingness that prevails throughout the
text as Lear loses more and more of what he had.

Research - What is the feudal notion of the 'wheel of fortune' demonstrated here?
In ancient and mediaeval philosophy the concept of "wheel of Fortune" ("Rota Fortunae")
represents the unpredictable nature of fate. The wheel belongs to the goddess Fortuna who
constantly spins it randomly, causing griefs and joys to mankind: some suffer misfortune, while
others live happily... until the wheel spins again. Different classes of people can seem to be
affected by the wheel of fortune differently. For example, while the lucky can often presume to
expect to own their money, fame or power, sudden changes in circumstances can frequently occur,
and those in power will fall from the top of the wheel to the bottom. The main idea behind the wheel
of fortune is that no one is exempt from the wheel. However, this mutability of Fortune can be
considered as good: the wheel may always spin and "what is now making you miserable will also
pass away" (Severinus Boethius, De Consolatione Philosophiae, Book 3, p. 36).

Act 1, Scene 5
● Lear is instructing Kent to go to Gloucester with a letter to his daughter and tells him not to
answer any of her questions unrelated to the contents of the letter.
● Fool appeals to Lear, trying to convince him that Goneril will not receive him properly (Fool
speaking through riddles).
● Lear believes that his letter will be well received, the fool convinces him otherwise.
○ "Thou wouldst make a good Fool" - foreshadowing.
○ "O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven!" - foreshadowing.

Task 3.0 - 20/07/23

10 Things Noticed: Differences between the text and film
1) Cordelia acts explicitly disrespectful to Lear, whereas in the text she isn't necessarily
disrespectful, more conscious of the appropriateness of the situation and the extent to which a
daughter should love a father.
2) Lear treats Cordelia’s initial remarks as jokes—this makes his anger come very quickly when he
starts yelling at her. In the script, Lear’s anger seems slower to come forth.
3) Lear's old age was more highlighted (falling over, struggling speech etc.), supporting Edgar's
perspective that the old should not be in power (foreshadowing).
4) Interaction between Albany and Gloucester over the splitting of the kingdom — closer
relationship than immediately apparent in the text
5) How Gloucester talks about Edmund (contextualised shame) - unholy interaction.
6) Cordelia's character isn't consistent with how she is portrayed in the text. Instead of being
level-minded and somewhat intelligent, she is driven more by emotion in the film, with emotional
outbursts dictating reactions rather than morals/thought.
7) The desperation with which Cordelia talks makes her seem like a hostage in Lear’s
castle—seems to reflect the dependency of women on men at the time—social norms and the
patriarchal society.
8) Reflection of the Great Chain of Being—when Lear speaks of the God/gods, everyone cowers a
bit in fear—the King is closest to God so he has a better relationship with him than everyone else.
9) As soon as Lear gave away land to Goneril, his first daughter, his loss of power became visibly
more obvious (stuttering speech, fingers tapping on table etc.).
10) When Goneril and Regan are alone, they are able to discuss what they can do with their
power; however, they never plot when a man is around - social norms, perspective toward
feminism.
11) When Lear speaks to the Gods, everyone cowers (Great Chain of Being).

Act 2, Scene 1
● Unravelling of the kingdom.
● Goneril is genuinely hurt as she does love Lear more than anyone else, as seen in her
coldness toward her husband.
● The delay of Edmund to self injure characterises him as weak. Moment of weakness is
important as it demonstrates the frailty of his character.
● Reference to Camelot - significance??? (specific to film).

Act 2, Scene 2

Act 2, Scene 3

Act 2, Scene 4
● "O sir, you are old. Nature in you stands on the very verge Of his confine. You should be
ruled and led 160 By some discretion that discerns your state Better than you yourself" (Act
II, Scene IV).
● Lear realises his two daughters are against him - pg 152
● I prithee daughter do not make me mad - madness foreshadowing - 154 line 240 ish
● "Touch me with noble anger, and let not women's weapons, water drops, stain my man's
cheek" (lines 301-303, p.158) Women in power disrupting the Great Chain of Being.
● ‘Oh fool, I shall go mad!’ - line 311, page 158
Act 3, Scene 1
● Interaction between Kent and Gentlemen.
● Lear is out in the storm (madness), giving orders to the weather in an attempt to exercise
his power.
● Kent reveals France is planning to attack - existential
● Lear trying to control the storm and summon gods
● Fool of Kent loyal to Lear to the point of him joining Lear in the storm - idea of loyalty and
disloyalty in Jacobean England (CAVAB).

Act 3, Scene 2
● "I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness; I never gave you a kingdom, call'd you
children; you owe me no subscription" (lines 15-18, p.176). Symbolises disruption to the
Great Chain of Being and the consequences of putting women in power.
● "Here’s a night pities neither wise men nor fools” (p.g 176, line 12) - meaning the night has
no pity for wise men or fools — symbolising Lear has gone mad
● "Things that love night love not such nights as these; wrathful skies gallow the very
wanderers of the dark" (lines 40-43, p.178). Night motif → evil things occur under cover of
night.
● Gloucester continues talking to Lear - Edmund plans to exploit the loyalty for his own
purpose
● James was selling peerage - contemporary issue

Act 3, Scene 3
● "The younger rises when the old doth fall" (line 23, p.184) - foreshadowing.
● “There is strange things toward, Edmund; pray you, be careful” (17, pg 184)- foreshadowing
evil and disruption of chain of being
● Complaining about disloyal kids - irony
● Edgar proclaims his virtue

Act 3, Scene 4
● ‘This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen’ (75, pg 192)
● ‘I smell the blood of a british man’ (178, p.g 200 )- foreshadowing death

Act 3, Scene 5
● Edmund dobs on Gloucester — gets his crown

Act 3, Scene 6
● Trial of Goneril and Regan, Goneril for kicking out Lear and Regan for being cold hearted.
●

Act 3, Scene 7
● "So white, and such a traitor!" (line 40, p.220) - Regan speaking to Gloucester.
● "I would not see thy cruel nails pluck out his poor old eyes" (lines 63-64, p.222).
● Gloucester's eyes are plucked out for not answering Regan's question of "wherefore to
Dover?" (why did you send him to Dover?).
 ● Reagan and Goneril cut out Gloucester’s eyes
● Goneril has a crush Edmund
● Regan shows her true character
○ Stabs in back
○ Wants the other eye too
○ Makes sight jokes afterwards - hehee smell your way out
● Cornwall dies

Act 4, Scene 1
● Interaction between Edgar and Gloucester, Edgar driven to madness and Gloucester
blinded, weak and powerless.
● Lots of references to how the gods have failed those in power (disrupting the GCB).
● Edgar is at the lowest point of his life, however when Gloucester turns up blind and
weakened, he gets lower again (irony).

Act 4, Scene 2
● Goneril likes Edmund and kisses him (multiple times). Commentary about lust and what it
does to change people.
● References to feminism/attitudes towards women's role in society: "My fool usurps my
body" (line 30, p.244).
● Role/gender reversal - Goneril telling Albany off as a coward — he responds by calling her
the devil - the opposite of god and what is good
● News is delivered that the Duke of Cornwall has been murdered.

Act 4, Scene 3

Act 4, Scene 4
● "As mad as the vex'd sea, singing aloud, crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds"
(p.258) - madness.
● Lear is talking about the problems of society. Women are human only down to the waist,
anything below the waist is the work of the devil - commentary of the destructive power of
lust. Lust for power acquisition.

Act 4, Scene 5
● Regan is suspicious of Goneril. Love triangle.

Act 4, Scene 6
● Gloucester and Edgar are at the “hill”
● Edgar is tricking Gloucester → because Gloucester is blind he cannot see, so Edgar is
“describing” what it looks like.
● Gloucester jumps and Edgar pretends to be someone else (ordinary gentleman) (on the
bottom of the cliff)
● Edgar convinces Gloucester that the gods have saved him—he tries to make the point that
his life must have some kind of purpose—there has supposedly been a divine intervention
● King Lear enters, and believed Gloucester is a prostitute trying to coax him into a brothel
● He later recognises Gloucester
 ● Oswald comes and draws sword on Gloucester → Edgar protects Gloucester with stick –
Edgar ends up killing Oswald.
● Edgar reads a letter – Goneril wants her husband, Albany, dead.
● Strong Descriptive language, (Edgar).
● Short sentence structure at first - then long sentence structure (King Lear)
● Gloucester is ready to die, Edgar stops him.
● Speak about the devil → Refrence to suicide being of the devil (cannot go into heaven if
you commit suicide)
● King Lear finds them, is recognised.
● The gentleman finds Lear, and notes that his conduct would be pitiful in a wretch,
unspeakable in a King.
● “When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools.” 7→ KL and
Gloucester cry together.
● King Lear has a “Crown” that he made himself out of plants.
● Edgar kills Oswald
● The letter of Goneril. “Let the vows we have sworn to each other be remembered. You have
many opportunities to kill him. If you aren’t lacking in determination, the time and place will
readily become apparent. Nothing is accomplished if he returns the conqueror, Then I will
be his prisoner, and his bed will be my jail. From it's hateful warmth, rescue me, and take
his place as your reward. Your – wife, is what I want to say – Affectionate servant, Goneril.”

✨ ✨
● Lear: "They told me I was everything; 'tis a lie, I am not ague-proof" (117-18, p.274).
● Oswald is slayed
● ‘Great stage of fools’ - our great tragedy
●

Act 4, Scene 7
● Cordelia is pitying Lear, attempting to heal him but is unsuccessful.
● "I am bound upon a wheel of fire" (lines 52-53,p.296) - reference to wheel of fortune, "fire"
referring to hell and being at the bottom of the wheel.
● "The great rage, you see, is kill'd in him" (p.300) - beginning of recovery/progression up the
wheel.
● Lear awakens and acknowledges he was at the bottom of the wheel - acknowledges his
hamartia
○ "I am a foolish, fond old man."
○ "Not in a perfect mind."
○ "If you have poison for me, I will drink it…you have cause."
■ Cordelia: "No cause, no cause." - act of love, irony etc.

Act 5, Scene 1
● Regan is confronting Edmund about his relations with Goneril.
● Edgar arrives with a letter to Albany.
● Edmund criticises the masculinity of Albany (indecisive).
○ Ironic as Edmund is indecisive about the sisters (lust, greed etc.).
● Nature motifs (adder) - snakes associated with evil, nature associated with fate.
● ‘My state stands on me to defend, not debate’ - Edmund talking about power and deciding
to act without considering his morality. Machiavelliansim.
Act 5, Scene 2
● Edgar, disguised, leads Gloucester to the shelter of a tree and goes into battle to fight on
Lear’s side.
● Lear’s side loses and Lear and Cordelia have been captured.
● Gloucester states that he will stay where he is and wait to be captured or killed, but Edgar
says that one’s death occurs at a predestined time. Persuaded, Gloucester goes with
Edgar.

Act 5, Scene 3
● Edmund leads in Lear and Cordelia as his prisoners (disrupts the Divine Right of Kings -
Edmund's downfall).
● Cordelia expects to confront Regan and Goneril, but Lear vehemently refuses to do so
● "Who with the best meaning have incurred the worst" (wheel of fortune).
● "For thee, oppressed king, I am cast down; myself could else out-frown false Fortune's
frown" (p.320).
● Lear and Cordelia are taken to prison
● Albany enters accompanied by Goneril and Regan. He praises Edmund for his brave
fighting on the British side and orders that he produce Lear and Cordelia.
● Edmund lies to Albany, claiming that he sent Lear and Cordelia away because he feared
that they would create a mutiny.
● Regan breaks in to declare that she plans to make Edmund her husband. Goneril tells
Regan that Edmund will not marry her, but Regan claims Edmund as her husband and lord.
● Discussions of power link to the great chain of being - pg 324
● Edmund is arrested for treason.
● Goneril poisons Regan, Regan is dying, unsure of why.
○ Regan: "Sick, O, sick!"
○ Goneril (aside): "If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine" (p.328).
● Albany calls for anyone who believes Edmund is a traitor— Edgar shows up to duel him
● .
● "Since thy outside looks so fair and warlike, and that thy tongue some say of breeding
breathes…I disdain and spurn." (p.332, lines 166-169). Commentary on the inferiority of
bastardry.
● ‘The wheel is come full circle; I am here’ (p. 336, line 204)- symbolic meaning - wheel of
fortune reference and the rightful return of the king
● "Be brief in it, to th' castle; for my writ is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia. Nay, send in
time" (p.342)
○ Guilt and consequences of disrupting the GCOB.
● "Her voice was ever soft, gentle, and low; an excellent thing in a woman" (lines 320-323,
p.244) - gender roles, patriarchal.
● Death of innocence and love is symbolised in Cordelia’s death
● Kent kills himself to remain loyal to his newly dead king
● ‘Your eldest daughters have fordone themselves, and are desperately dead’ (p.346) the
death of the sisters was something they brought upon themselves. They are once more at

💀
the bottom of the wheel.
● Lear dies . (p.348)
Task: Quick write themes:
What perspective about (God, loyalty, gender, fortune, love, power) is offered?

Gender: Shakespeare offers the perspective that traditional gender roles must be maintained to
ensure the success of the kingdom.

King Lear offers commentary on gender regarding the traditional roles of men and women in
Jacobean society. Through references to the Wheel of Fortune, Shakespeare implies that when
women are put in positions of power, politics and society are put at risk. For example, there is a
state of peace and balance at the start of the play when England is ruled singularly by Lear as he
was chosen by God as the rightful ruler; however, as soon as he distributes power among his
daughters, the kingdom deteriorates.

Love: Shakespeare creates the perspective that impure or lustful love will always end badly.

Power: Shakespeare argues that the struggle for power corrupts those who pursue it, and those
striving to achieve it will ultimately end back where they started.

Loyalty: Shakespeare offers the perspective that loyalty is essential to the success of any
institution, and, more specifically, the patriarchy.

God/s: Shakespeare indicates that disruptions to the Great Chain of Being will inevitably have
tragic outcomes.

Fortune: Shakespeare suggests that should one disrupt the Natural Order of Being, the power of
fortune overwhelms that of choice.

Themes
Madness:
● Short sentences and sporadic exclamations and insults.
● Stripping of kingly clothing and dressing in wild flowers: "a sight most pitiful in the earnest
wretch, past speaking of in a king."
● "Tis the infirmity of his age."
● Contextualise reason for madness - new awareness of mental illness (Bedlam - UK asylum,
first mental health hospital in the world). Topic of conversation in England when King Lear
was written.
● Dover and Gunpowder plot - paranoia etc.
●
Power:
● Shakespeare's audience were staunch believers in the Great Chain of Being. King Lear
dramatises what would happen if the chain should be disrupted.
● The powerful should remain powerful, and the powerless should remain powerless.
● King Lear himself is disrupting the GCOB as he is irresponsible with his power and gives it
away to his daughters.
● "Only shall we retain The name, and all th' additions to a king. The sway, revenue,
execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours; which to confirm,This coronet part between
you."
 ● "O sir, you are old. Nature in you stands on the very verge Of his confine. You should be
ruled and led 160 By some discretion that discerns your state Better than you yourself" (Act
II, Scene IV).
● "Nature's above art in that respect" (line 100, p.274) - A born king is above man made laws.
● "They told me I was everything; 'tis a lie, I am not ague-proof" (117-18, p.274).

Loyalty and Disloyalty:

● James I vs catholics.
● Lear: "My master has called" - Lear's loyalty to Lear and his desire to kill himself to be with
Lear in death.

Fortune:
● Direct wheel reference - pg. 132
● "If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes" (p.280).
● ‘The wheel is come full circle; I am here’ (p. 336, line 204)- wheel of fortune reference.
● "For thee, oppressed king, I am cast down; myself could else out-frown false Fortune's
frown" (p.320).

Truth:
● "Speak what you feel, not what we ought to say"
● Cordelia speaks the truth, while Goneril and Regan lie
● Lips = source of truth.

Play Summary in 50 Stand-Alone Quotes

Act I and II
1. "Only we shall retain the name, and all the addition to a king; the sway, revenue, execution
of the rest, beloved sons, be yours; which to confirm, this coronet part between you." (Act I,
Scene I, p.32).
2. "Know that we have divided In three our kingdom; and ‘tis our fast intent To shake all cares
and business from our age" (Scene I).
3. "See better Lear, and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye" (Act 1, Scene 1)
4. “Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.” - King Lear, Scene 1
5. "I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny" (Act I, Scene II,
p.48).
6. "Put on what weary negligence you please, you and your fellows; I'd have it come to
question" (Act I, Scene III, p.60, lines 12-13).
7. “He always loved our sister most, and with what poor judgement he hath now cast her off
appears too grossly” - Goneril (Act 1, Scene 4)
8. “You should be ruled and led by some discretion that discerns your state better than you
yourself” - Regan (Act 2, Scene 2)
9. "Touch me with noble anger, and let not women's weapons, water drops, stain my man's
cheek" (Act 2, Scene IV, lines 301-303, p.158).
10. "‘Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest And must needs taste his folly" (Act II,
Scene II).
11. “O, how this mother swells up toward my heart! Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing
sorrow” - King Lear (Act 2, Scene 4)
12. "Smile once more; turn thy wheel!" (Act 2, Scene 2).
13. “O fool, I shall go mad!” (Act 2, Scene 4)
 14. "That sir which serves and seeks for gain, and follows but for form, will pack when it begins
to rain" (Act 2, Scene 4).
15. "The mind to suffer with the body" (Act 2, Scene 4).
16. "For you, Edmund, whose virtue and obedience doth this instant so much commend itself,
you shall be ours. Nature of such deep trust we shall much need. You we first seize on." -
Cornwall (Act 2, Scene 1)
17. “Fathers that wear rags do make their children blind, but fathers that bear bags shall see
their children kind.” (Act 2, Scene 4)
18. "The old man and his people cannot be well bestow'd" (Act 2, Scene 4).
19. “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. Thou art a
boil, a plague-sore or embossed carbuncle in my corrupted blood.” (Act 2, Scene 4)
20. “You think I'll weep. No, I'll not week. I have full cause of weeping, but this heart shall break
into a hundred thousand flaws or ere I'll weep.” (Act 2, Scene 4)

Act III and IV