King Lear, Act V

1. abhorred (page 106): to regard with extreme repugnance, loathe.

2. In this act, Regan asks Edmund if he has had physical or emotional relations with Goneril, and she advises him to stay away from her. Immediately after, Goneril and Albany enter with troops ready to fight the French army. Edgar enters disguised as a peasant and gives Albany the letter from Goneril to Edmund that states that she wishes to have him killed, but Edgar promises to take care of it. Albany exits, and Edmund makes an aside about his predicament in that he has promised his love to both Regan and Goneril, and he tries to devise a solution. When the battle begins Edgar takes Gloucester to a safe place and battles on Lear's side, however, they have lost and Lear and Cordelia were captured by Edmund. Edmund gives the guard instructions on what to do with the captives and soon Albany comes with Goneril and Regan. Regan, who feels ill, claims that Edmund is going to marry her. Albany arrests Edmund on charges of treason and he must now fight in a battle with Edgar, who defeats him. Albany reveals to Goneril the letter which states that she intended to have him murdered, and she flees. Edgar says that he revealed to Gloucester his true identity, and he died of overwhelming mixed emotions. A messenger hurries in and reveals that Goneril has committed suicide, and poisoned Regan just before. Edmund tries to repent for his wrongdoing before his death and stop the order he placed to have Cordelia hanged. The messenger arrived too late and Lear enters carrying Cordelia's body, he thinks she is breathing again and just as he sees this, he himself dies. Albany invites Edgar and Kent to rule with him as they reflect on all of the ones who have just died.

3. I find it interesting that Regan and Goneril's hunger for power and selfish intent essentially lead to their death. Throughout the play, the two sisters were united for the mission of stripping their father of all of his power and land for their own benefit. However, as soon as Edmund came into the picture and both girls were seeking a relationship with him, they turned against each other. It is Goneril's jealousy of Regan's relationship with Edmund that causes her to poison her sister who up until this point was her ally. Also, Edgar arrives to deliver the letter to Albany that contains Goneril's plan to have him killed and when Albany confronts Goneril with this plan she flees and it is later revealed that she stabbed herself with a knife in order to kill herself.

4. a) Does Edmund love either of the sisters, or is this just another act of deception?

b) In class somebody brought up the idea that essentially the evil characters recieved justice in the end through death, but then how would the death of Cordelia be explained as she was a very honest, and good character?

c) Is there any significance to Kent foreshadowing his own death?

King Lear, Act IV

1. lamentable (page 75): that is to be regretted, deplorable.




2. Edgar is silently reflecting upon his situation as he is presented with the sight of his father who has had his eyes gouged out being lead by an old man. He hears Gloucester tell the old man that he wishes to touch his son Edgar again rather than getting his sight back. Gloucester orders the old man to give the beggar some clothes and then he asks the "Tom" the beggar to lead him to the highest cliff in Dover. Goneril and Edmund arrive outside her castle where Oswald informs them that Albany is angry that Regan and Goneril have driven Lear mad, Goneril realizes that he is no longer her ally. She hints to Edmund that she wishes to be his mistress as she tells him goodbye, and as Edmund leaves Albany enters. As Albany and Goneril are arguing a messenger comes to deliver a letter containing the news that Cornwall has died. Albany demands to know where Edmund is, and soon after Albany learns that it was Edmund who betrayed his father and is determined to help Gloucester. Kent's letters have been delivered to Cordelia who learns of what her sisters have done to her father, and also that he has arrived in Dover but does not want to see her because he is ashamed. Cordelia, the queen of France stands ready with her army and also orders to see her father and speak with a doctor about Lear's health. Oswald carries a letter from Goneril to Edmund, Regan assumes it is about her love for him but she informs Oswald that she would be a much better match for Edmund than her sister as she is a widow, and also offers him a reward to find and kill Gloucester. Gloucester, however is being lead to the "cliffs" of Dover where Edgar tells him that they are at the top so that when his father tried to kill himself he merely fell to the ground. When Gloucester wakes up, Edgar takes care of him still in disguise. Lear is soon discovered by Cordelia's men as they try to bring them to her but he refuses. Oswald sees Edgar and Gloucester with the intent of murdering Gloucester, but Edgar instead defends his father and kills Oswald, as a result Edgar is given the letters. Eventually Lear is brought to Cordelia where he admits he has gone insane and understands if she wants to kill him, but rather she forgives him.

3. I find it very interesting that Gloucester has to become physically blind before he can really see. It is not until after Cornwall gouges his eyes out and he has to be lead around by a servant that he realizes his mistake. Beginning with line 19 of this act Gloucester says, " I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw: full oft 'tis seen, our means secure us, and our mere defects prove our commodities. O dear son Edgar, the food of thy abused father's wrath! Might I live to see thee in my touch, I'ld say I had eyes again."Hetruly feels regretful about trusting Edmund who clearly had evil intentions rather than Edgar and he would give anything to be in Edgar's presence. Gloucester does not care that he is blind, and no longer has a will to live because he is so overcome with grief.

4. a) Why does the Fool no longer appear in the play?

b) How did Cornwall get away with punishing Gloucester?

c) Why doesn't Edgar reveal his true identity to his father?

King Lear, Act III

1. impetuous (page 57) : marked by impulsive vehemence or passion




2. Kent runs into one of Lear's knights and learns that he is wandering around somewhere with only his fool. He tells the knight about the fight between Albany and Cornwall and gives him a ring to deliver to Cordelia while he himself decides to search for Lear. Meanwhile Lear is still out in the storm with his fool behaving rather emotionally unstable and insane. Kent finds Lear and the fool and tells them to take shelter. Gloucester speaks to Edmund about Regan and Goneril and how they shut their father out in the storm and then they ordered Gloucester to never speak to Lear again, he feels uneasy about this situation and decides that he must take Lear's side and go search for him. Edmund decides that he must tell Cornwall of Gloucester's absence hoping that Gloucester will be put to death and then he will inherit his father's land. Lear is resisting going to shelter, but when he finally gives in the fool insists that there is a spirit in the place that they're staying which is really Edgar disguised as Poor Tom. Lear takes sympathy on Edgar when they discuss what a wonderful life Edgar had before he went insane and became a beggar. Lear then gives Edgar the clothes right off his back, and when Kent and Gloucester arrive to take him back to Gloucester's castle he insists that Edgar come with them. Meanwhile, Cornwall wishes to seek revenge on Gloucester after he read a letter that "proves his acts of treason" and sends Edmund to find Gloucester. Gloucester, Lear, Kent and Fool are staying in a shelter and Gloucester goes to get supplies and comes back to reveal to Kent that he has heard of a plan to kill Lear, so they send him to a place in England to hide. Gloucester is found, and it is decided that he must be punished for being a traitor, his consequence was getting both of his eyes gouged out by Cornwall. Gloucester calls for Edmund to help him but Regan reveals that it was Edmund who betrayed him and Gloucester realizes that it was Edgar who truly loved him.




3. I think Shakespeare's character of the Fool is very interesting, and much more complex than I expected. Prior to reading this act I thought the role of the fool was merely to provide comic relief in a depressing tragedy. While he does do this, he is also very wise, contrary to what his name might lead one to believe. Although the Fool does occasionally ramble on about things that do not make sense, there is always some truth to them. An example of this would be in lines 10-13 of this act where the Fool says, " O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house is better than this rain-water out o'door. Good nuncle, in and ask thy daughters' blessing: here's a night pities neither wise man nor fool." Here the Fool is wisely advising Lear to ask for forgiveness from his daughters. A few moments later in lines 78-81 the Fool sings, " He that has and a little tiny wit-- with hey, ho, the wind and the rain,-- must make content with his fortunes fit, for the rain it raineth every day." At first the song seems to be nonsense, but it does actually contain truth to it.





4. a) Through the gouging out of Gloucester's eyes, is Shakespeare alluding to the idea that the majority of Gloucester's pain is physical while Lear's is emotional?


b) Does Shakespeare intend to use animal imagery when comparing Regan and Goneril to a wolves or "she foxes" or is this simply another example of Lear's insane rants about his daughters?

c) Is there significance behind all of the violence in this act?

King Lear, Act II

1. enmity (page 54): positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will.

2. Act two begins in Gloucester's castle where Curan (Gloucester's servant) informs Edmund that Regan and Cornwall are coming to visit, Edmund plans to use Cornwall as part of his plan to kill Edgar. Edmund summons Edgar out of hiding to tell him that Cornwall is angry at him, Edgar does not understand what he is talking about so instead Edmund tells him that Gloucester has discovered his hiding spot in an effort to make him flee. Edmund fakes a sword fight with Edgar and cuts himself to make it look like Edgar has hurt him because he refused to take part in a plan to kill Gloucester. Regan and Cornwall arrive, Edmund tells them that Edgar is planning to kill Gloucester and Regan decides that he is one of Lear's knights and the other knights put him up to it. Outside of Gloucester's castle Kent disguised as a peasant attacks Oswald with his sword and screams for Regan, Cornwall, and Gloucester resulting in Kent being locked up in the stocks. Edgar comes into the scene nervous that he will be found so he decides to disguise himself as a beggar named Tom. Soon after, Lear arrives at Gloucester's castle and sees Kent in the stocks, angered by this he demands to speak with Regan and Cornwall who refuse to speak with him. Lear tells Regan about the way that Goneril treated him, she tells Lear that Goneril may have been correct as he is getting very old. Goneril also arrives at the castle, and the two girls tell Lear that he may only have a few knights if he lives with either of them, and eventually they tell him he can have none. Lear is angry at Regan and Goneril and leaves the castle into a brutal storm.

3. The storm that Lear has ventured out into, as pointed out by Gloucester is depicted by "the bleak winds do sorely ruffle; for many miles about there's scarce a bush." I believe that Shakespeare is using this treacherous storm to show what is going on inside of King Lear. In this act Lear is slowly beginning to realize the true intentions of Regan and Goneril, this causes him grief as he has banished the daughter who truly loved him. Regan and Goneril are trying to cast away Lear's knights and gradually gain control of the land that their father once ruled. As his evil daughters try to take away his knights, they are also taking away part of his identity. They are taking away the part of their father which felt needed, and powerful over many people and leaving him with his own thoughts which are torn between grief, anger, and the search for a new identity. This powerful and brutal storm is a tool in illuminating the confliction and turmoil which takes place inside of King Lear's mind.

4. a) Is the storm also supposed to represent something going on in Gloucester's life?

b) Are the sisters (Regan and Goneril) reliable sources of information?

c) What is the significance of the fight between Oswald and Kent, resulting in Kent being put in the stocks?

King Lear, Act I

1. sojourn (page 14): a temporary stay


2. Act one begins with Kent and Gloucester talking about how King Lear is going to divide the kingdom, but soon after they begin to talk about Gloucester's son Edmund who he reveals to Kent is a bastard child, but he still loves him as much as his other son. King Lear announces that he wishes to divide the kingdom into three equal parts, for each of his daughters. However, he is requiring his daughters to tell him which one loves him the most because he will give the most land to the one who claims to love him the most. Two of his daughters, Regan and Goneril immediately say that they love him the most but Lear's other daughter Cordelia refuses to express her love, but then she finally insists that Goneril and Regan cannot possibly love him that much otherwise they would not be married. Because of this Lear gets angry and banishes Cordelia. Kent tells Lear that he should not have rewarded his daughters because he thinks Cordelia loves Lear the most, he then also banishes Kent. The Duke of Burgundy no longer wishes to marry Cordelia because she will not inherit any land, but the King of France would still like to marry her. Regan and Goneril plan to reduce what little power their father has. Edmund vents to the audience about how society treats bastard children, and then plots to retain whatever his brother land or power his brother was to inherit. He creates a fake letter to make it look like Edgar was planning to kill their father Gloucester, and makes sure it gets delivered to Gloucester. Lear is spending time with Goneril and she wishes to cause trouble so she tells her servants to be rude to King Lear. Kent disguises himself as a servant at Goneril's castle and aids King Lear. The fool arrives and also tells Lear that he is foolish to give his power to Regan and Goneril. Goneril orders that Lear get rid of half of his knights as they are disorderly, Lear is beginning to regret giving power to Goneril and decides to go live with Regan at her castle instead.



3. I think the parallel that Shakespeare is trying to draw between Lear's situation and Gloucester's is very interesting. Both men have children who are dishonest and will do anything to get what they want, which in both cases is land and other inheritances. For Lear this is his two scheming daughters Regan and Goneril. For Gloucester this is his illegitimate son Edmund. Lear's daughter Cordelia however, refuses to tell her father how much she loves him even if it means not getting her share or money or land. This is exemplified in lines 95-99 where Cordelia states, "unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my heart unto my mouth: I love your majesty according to my bond; nor more nor less." Lear replies with, " How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little, lest it may mar your fortunes." Lear is extremely angered at the idea that Cordelia will not tell him how great her love is, and banishes her. Many people including Kent, one of Lear's trusted friends warns him that he was foolish to reward the false confessions of love from Regan and Goneril. I think this could be Shakespeare possibly setting up Lear's tragic downfall. As for Gloucester, his mistake in trusting Edmund could be where Shakespeare is setting up this character for doom.

4. a) Did Shakespeare intend for the opening scene to be taken literally or symbolically?

b) In Edmund's speech to the audience, is Shakespeare trying to develop a pathos for him through pointing out his need to be accepted as a bastard child?

c) How does King Lear not realize his mistake in trusting his two evil daughters as opposed to Cordelia even after it is brought to his attention by a long time trusted friend such as Kent?