Act 3 Scene 5

Question 1

loyalty vs nature

Answer 1

Edmund – “I may be censured that nature thus gives way to loyalty.”
AO1: Edmund claims he’s choosing loyalty to the crown over family, justifying his betrayal.
AO2: Juxtaposition of “nature” and “loyalty” reveals the inner conflict between blood and ambition.
AO3: In Jacobean England, betraying a father would be a profound violation of natural and divine order.
AO5: Some critics argue Edmund’s justification masks ambition; others see it as a Machiavellian manipulation of values.

Question 2

fake regret of betrayal

Answer 2

Edmund – “How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent to be just!”
AO1: He pretends to feel regret for betraying his father — a dark mockery of moral justice.
AO2: The sarcastic tone and paradox (“repent to be just”) create dramatic irony.
AO3: Challenges Jacobean moral codes that associate justice with divine truth.
AO5: Critics debate whether Edmund is self-aware or just cruel — he blurs the line between justice and ambition.

Question 3

idc your the new earl of gloucester

Answer 3

Cornwall – “True or false, it hath made thee Earl of Gloucester.”
AO1: Cornwall rewards Edmund regardless of whether the accusation is true.
AO2: The careless contrast of “true or false” exposes a world where power outweighs truth.
AO3: Highlights political corruption and the breakdown of fair judgment.
AO5: A Marxist reading would see this as an example of power reinforcing itself without justice or morality.

Question 4

cornwall gloucester’s replacement

Answer 4

Cornwall – “Thou shalt find a dearer father in my love.”
AO1: Cornwall symbolically replaces Gloucester, adopting Edmund as his political son.
AO2: The emotional language (“dearer father”) contrasts with the cold betrayal of blood.
AO3: Reflects the new world’s values — loyalty is transactional, not familial.
AO5: Could be seen as Cornwall seducing Edmund with false affection, representing corrupt power structures.