Act 1 Scene 2 Flashcards
(12 cards)
antithesis edmund if not by…
“Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit”
AO1: Edmund rejects primogeniture, embracing intelligence and cunning over legitimacy.
AO2: The conditional clause “if not by birth” followed by the ambitious “have lands by wit” signals his Machiavellian ambition.
AO3: This contrasts with Jacobean ideals of divine right and order; Edmund aligns with a more Machiavellian, humanist worldview.
AO4: He acts as a foil to Edgar, who embodies loyalty and natural order.
AO5: Critics often view Edmund as a proto-modern character — intelligent and self-determining — but morally corrosive.
juxtaposition of a word and intention, I must
“Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land.”
AO1: This line shows Edmund’s raw envy and intent to usurp his brother’s position.
AO2: The direct address “Legitimate Edgar” drips with sarcasm and resentment; the modal verb “must” stresses inevitability.
AO3: Legitimacy was central to Jacobean inheritance law; Edmund’s rebellion is a direct attack on that system.
AO4: This continues the theme of betrayal and unnatural familial roles, mirroring Lear’s daughters.
AO5: Some critics argue Edmund’s ambition is a justified response to societal injustice; others see him as a chaotic disruptor.
plosive b
“base bastard”
AO1- Edmund uses this insult to refer to himself bitterly, highlighting his resentment at being treated as socially and legally inferior because of his illegitimacy. It shows the emotional foundation of his future betrayal.
AO2 (Method):
The harsh plosive alliteration in “base bastard” creates an aggressive, spitting tone, reflecting Edmund’s internalised anger and the stigma of illegitimacy. The phrase is self-directed, but with contempt for the values that label him.
AO3 (Context):
In Jacobean England, bastards were seen as socially inferior and legally excluded from inheritance. Edmund’s rage taps into this real-world discrimination, which Shakespeare critiques through Edmund’s cunning rise.
AO4 (Connections):
Links to other characters rejected by their family or society—like Cordelia, who is disowned for her honesty. Both Edmund and Cordelia are punished for things outside their control, but respond in opposing ways.
AO5 (Critical debate):
Some critics argue Edmund is a product of society’s cruelty, and his rebellion is justified. Others see him as a Machiavellian villain who uses injustice as an excuse for evil.
not vocal method
[pocketing letter]
AO1: This non-verbal action shows Edmund’s manipulation beginning in earnest.
AO2: The quiet deceit of this gesture foreshadows the chaos he will unleash.
AO3: Letters often function as plot devices in Shakespeare, and misreading them often leads to tragedy.
AO4: The letter motif links this scene to future scenes of mistaken identity and misinformation.
AO5: Some stage critics highlight how silent actions like this can deepen our understanding of character deceit.
old age
“Reverence of age makes the world bitter to the best of our times.” – Edmund, Act 1 Scene 2
AO1: Edmund criticises the way society automatically respects older generations, arguing that such deference holds back the most capable people of his time — like himself. This links to his frustration with social hierarchy and his illegitimate status.
AO2: The abstract noun “reverence” paired with the personification of “age” constructs a system of power rooted in tradition rather than merit. The bitter tone created by “makes the world bitter” shows Edmund’s resentment at being sidelined. The phrase “best of our times” ironically positions him as morally or intellectually superior, despite his deceit — suggesting his ambition and self-aggrandisement.
AO3: In Jacobean England, the older generation were revered for their wisdom and supposed divine right to rule. Edmund’s speech directly rebels against this worldview, representing a radical, Machiavellian rejection of authority grounded in age and blood.
AO4: Foreshadows the generational tension that fuels Lear’s downfall — Lear demands obedience from his daughters based on age and rank, not personal merit or morality.
AO5: Critics sympathetic to Edmund (e.g. Marxist or New Historicist) may see him as a product of rigid structures that favour the undeserving elite. Others argue he is not a victim of the system, but a corrosive force who seeks to destroy it purely out of selfishness.
Gloucester sun and moon
⸻
🎴 Quote: “These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us.” – Gloucester
AO1: Gloucester attributes political and personal strife to astrological events, showing deep superstition.
AO2: The celestial imagery reflects his fatalistic worldview.
AO3: Belief in omens and cosmic disorder was common in Jacobean times.
AO4: Contrasts Edmund’s rejection of fate — he represents the old world; Edmund the new.
AO5: Critics often view Gloucester’s reliance on fate as tragic naivety, making him susceptible to Edmund’s manipulation.
Edmund rejecting superstition
🎴 Quote: “We make guilty of our disasters the sun, moon, and stars.” – Edmund
AO1: Edmund mocks belief in fate and divine punishment, claiming humans cause their own downfall.
AO2: The list of heavenly bodies contrasts with the accusatory tone of “we make guilty,” implying willful ignorance.
AO3: This is a rare Renaissance voice challenging astrology and fate — a radical stance.
AO4: It aligns him ideologically with reason over superstition, like Iago in Othello.
AO5: Critics admire this moment of rational clarity, though it underpins a path of villainy.
law of…
Edmund is a victim of the law of primogeniture. traditional method of passing down wealth and property. Primogeniture meant that the first born son inherited all family fortunes and titles and as he is illegitimate he can’t inherit anything as he was born out of wedlock illegal.
“Twelve or fourteen moonshines.”
soliliquy shows the d…..
discontented malcontent. Malcontent was a scornful outsider. John Marston’s play, The malcontent established this character as a theatrical type.
links between Lear plot and Sub Plot.
Fathers misjudge their children, precipitating their own ruin
Gloucesters swift rejection of Edgar \ Swift rejection of Cordelia
Gloucester taken in by false words and appearance \ so was Lear
Gloucester’s also having inheritance issues
Another innocent and virtuous child is cast off
Gloucester put Edmund in power just as Lear put Goneril and Regan
Edmund alone on stage mirrors Goneril and Regan’s urgent plain speaking
nature power god
“nature art my godess”
AO1 (Meaning):
Edmund rejects social and legal conventions (like marriage and inheritance laws) and instead pledges loyalty to Nature, which he sees as a brutal, survival-of-the-fittest force. This marks the beginning of his rebellion against traditional order.
AO2 (Method):
religious diction in “goddess” elevate Nature to a divine status. This personification signals Edmund’s replacement of God and law with instinct and ambition, creating a blasphemous and radical tone.
AO3 (Context):
This would shock a Jacobean audience, who believed in the Divine Right of Kings and a God-ordained social order. Edmund worshipping nature over law or religion positions him as a threat to that divine structure.
AO4 (Connections):
Contrasts with Lear’s belief in structured, patriarchal inheritance and Cordelia’s pious humility. While Lear’s downfall comes from misjudging nature and humanity, Edmund embraces it for personal gain.
AO5 (Critical debate):
Some critics see Edmund as a proto-modern character, rebelling against unjust norms. Others argue he is a nihilistic villain whose rejection of social order leads to chaos and destruction.
command
“Now gods stand up for bastards.” – Edmund (Act 1, Scene 2)
🧠 Meaning & Argument (AO1):
Edmund embraces his illegitimacy and calls on the gods to support him and praise him, rejecting the idea that birthright should determine worth. He argues that power should be based on merit, not status.
🎭 Method (AO2):
The exclamatory tone and imperative “stand up” show defiance. The ironic religious allusion aligns divine power with rebellion. The juxtaposition of “gods” and “bastards” challenges moral and social norms.
📚 Context (AO3):
Illegitimate children had no legal rights in Jacobean England. Edmund’s rejection of this injustice reflects the rising challenge to hereditary power and societal structure.
🔗 Connections & Links (AO4):
Foreshadows Edmund’s villainy and links to Lear’s later breakdown. Like Lear, Edmund resists a world that rejects him, but does so through manipulation rather than madness.
🧠 Critics (AO5):
Some see Edmund as a proto-modern figure challenging injustice. Others argue he disguises ruthless ambition as righteous rebellion.
