Act One Flashcards
(17 cards)
What idea is established in the first few lines of king Lear?
Ideas of favouritism and appearances are introduced through the:
1. MAIN plot: Lears favouritism of Cordelia and his inability to not only see through Goneril + Regans superficial speeches, but also his failure to recognise Cordelia and Kent’s honesty.
2. Subplot: Glousters favouritism of Edgar and his inability to see Edmunds evil nature
Why is Edmunds silence significant in Act 1 Scene 1?
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What does this also allow Shakespeare to do ?
Edmunds silence symbolises his position as the bastard son, who has no ‘voice’ or rights in society.
It also allows Shakespeare to keep Edmunds true identity concealed, so that his opening soliloquy in the next scene is more dramatic.
How is appearance vs reality introduced in Act one Scene 1?
Edmunds polite exterior conceals his evil nature, setting the running them of appearances vs reality throughout the play
How is Gloucester characterised in Act one Scene 1?
Gloucester is characterised an having rather lax morals, this is seen through:
- Gloucester easily joking about Edmund’s Bastardy
- He claims he loves Edmund as much as his legitimate son, yet talks lewdly about his conception and calls him a ‘whoreson’
How does Lears fixation on appearance rather than reality set the Lears tragic fall:
At first, Lears entrance is impressive and suggest power: “Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester” is commanding and establishes him as the central figure in the room.
However, Lears love test is foolish and self regarding. And because Lear has already decided how he must divide his Kingdom, the only point of the love test is for Lear to enjoy his daughter’s elaborate praise.
The love king Lear seeks in Act 1 Scene 1 is one that can be offered in formal and subservient expressions, hence why he rejects the love of Cordelia and Kent’s.
By the end of the scene, family and national harmony have been destroyed, one daughter has challenged her father and the others prepare to subvert his authority.
Ultimately, king Lear can be depicted as someone who cares more about appearances then sincerity, a flaw that leads to his misuse of power and tragic downfall.
What is Cordelia’s character like in Act one scene one ?
Cordelia’s epitomises honesty and genuine feeling when she highlights how some of her love should go to her husband: ‘half my love with him, half my care and duty’,
Her integrity and strength is further shown in: ‘sure, I shall never marry like my sisters / to love my father all’
Is Lear a tyrant or victim in act one scene one?
Despite acting like a tyrant in act one scene one:
“Come not between the dragon and his wrath.” This shows Lears self image as an emblem of tyrannical pride and rage.
Lear could be seen as a victim:
He speaks to Cordelia ruthlessly, but only because his authority had been publicly denied and Cordelia’s refusal to take part in the love test is a disregard and a humiliation of Lears vulnerability.
‘Nothing’ > ‘nothing will come of nothing’
- Possible to feel sympathy for the old man, whose judgement could arguably be clouded by senile dementia.
How is the disturbance of the natural order shown in Act 1 Scene 1:
The disturbance of the natural order is shown in Act 1 Scene 1 through the reversed relationship between Lear and his daughter.
Lear hopes to rely on Cordelia’s ‘kind nursery’ as he ‘crawls towards death’ hence why he divides the kingdom so she would receive the most ‘opulent’ share.
However this language suggests Lears vulnerability as that of a baby, allowing Shakespeare to connote to a disturbance of the natural order and a world already titling towards chaos.
What is Edmund a victim of and what does this lead him to do ?
Edmund is a victim of the law of primogeniture, a law that requires first born sons to inherit the family fortune and the father’s title. As an illegitimate son, he is entitled to nothing.
This leads him to break the familial bonds between Gloucester and Edgar.
His master manipulation leads to Gloucesters swift rejection of Edgar.
“It is his hand, my lord; but I hope his heart is not in the contents.”
From Act 1, Scene 2, edgar pretends to defend Edgar while subtly planting suspicion in Gloucester’s mind, this quote is central to Edmund’s cunning deception manipulation.
The turning point that begins the destruction of Gloucester and Edgar’s relationship.
“Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain!”: denounces Edgar with increasing intensity. Collapse of familial bonds.
What does Edmund soliloquy at the begging of Act 1 Scene 2 reveal ?
It reveals Edmunds discontent, specifically in his last line ‘now gods stand up for bastards’: a clear expression of rousing defiance.
How does the subplot mirror the main plot?
Appearances Vs Reality:
Gloucester is taken in by false words and appearances, just as Lear was, once again inheritance issues are an issue.
Child cast off:
Another innocent child is cast off, while the father promises property to his unworthy offspring’s in return for a show of affection.
Unworthy children:
Gloucester puts himself in his son’s Edmunds power just as Lear resigned his power to Goneril and Regan.
The use of the subplot helps deepen or highlight the main themes of tragedy in the main plot.
What are the significant quotes in Edmunds soliloquy?
“Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law / My services are bound.” > this quote establishes Edmund’s cunning and rebellious world view as he rejects the traditional, legal structures of society.
“Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land.”This line clearly shows Edmund’s ambition and his willingness to betray his own brother
How does the balance of power shift from Lear to his daughters in Act 1 Scene 3?
Goneril subverts her father’s authority despite having a duty to care for him as her guest. Throughout this scene her tone is assertive and uncompromising.
“I’ll not endure it.”: no room for negotiation. Goneril is clearly determined to stand her ground against Lear.
“Put on what weary negligence you please.” She gives Oswald direct instructions to treat Lear disrespectfully — intentionally provoking conflict.
What shows a real decline in Lears authority by Act 1 scene 4?
Lears speech’s become increasingly disjointed as he becomes more distressed, this is a clear hint at his madness yet to come.
For instance, Lears threats and curses are increasingly fragmented and empty as the scene unfolds:
“Hear, Nature, hear! dear goddess, hear! / Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend / To make this creature fruitful!”
- Lear is calling on Nature (personified as a goddess) to not allow Goneril to bear children. He’s so enraged that he wants her to be barren — an extreme and unnatural curse, especially coming from a father.
Between curses and weeping, Lear seems to have lost his emotional self-possession. Specifically when he says “Who is it that can tell me who I am?”
His use of ‘I’ is at odds with the royal ‘we he involves in his earlier question ‘Are you our daughter?’
- Dramatic irony: Lear hopes he is being sarcastic when he asks these questions, however the audience will recognise the serious concerns.
Arguably, there’s a clear indication he realises his unwisely behaviour in “‘Woe, that too late repents” this is reinforced when he calls out in anguish “Oh Lear, Lear, Lear! Beat this gate and let thy folly in, / and they dear judgment out”
Lears anguish in this scene Act 1 scene 4, starkly contrasts his absolute power in Act 1 scene 1
What state is Lear in by Act 1, Scene 5 ?
Lear is in a state of intense growing isolation and fragile mental state.
Lear is so distracted by disturbing thoughts, he hardly engages with the fool who speaks repeatedly during this scene. Lear interrupts with:
“I did her wrong—”
- This line is simple but powerful. It marks a key moment of self-awareness and regret, showing he’s consumed by guilt and inner turmoil.
- detachment and distraction is highlighted in this scene when Lear barely pays attention to the Fool’s insight or humour. Shakespeare signifies how Lears feeling of intense isolation is worsened when he recognises how badly he mistreated Cordelia.
Dramatic Irony: the audience suspects Regan will treat him as cold as goneril did. So they are aware Lear will eventually have no one to turn to.
This marks the dissent into Lears madness. “O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! Keep me in temper: I would not be mad!”
- His appeal to the heavens is a sign he is reaching outside of his kingly status and beginning to confront his human vulnerability.
What is the significance of Act 1 scene 5?
We learn lears suffering serves as corrective vision.
Only when Lears kingly mentality has been broken down by suffering will he be able to perceive an understand the reality of his situation: that he is blind to a number of truths / neither can he recognise his own truths.
Lears blindness also paralllels the states breakdown, and ultimately a kingdom built on appearences won’t stand.
What role does the fool play in Act 1 scene 5?
The fool plays a paradoxical role of distracting Lear of his immediate pain while making him face up to his responsibility for creating it in the first place.
The fool that appears light hearted through his riddles, is actually brutally honest “thou wouldst make a good fool”
This is another instance of appearance vs reality, but not in a deceptive sense but rather comforting sense: forcing reflection and self awareness.
