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?
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