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?
No comments:
Post a Comment