Edmund and Edgar Flashcards
(51 cards)
“I have so often…
-“blushed to acknowledge him”
-Edmund born outside of marriage making him illegitimate
-Gloucester speaking in a cruel manner about Edmund at the beginning
-some sympathy evoked for Edmund
“there was good…
-“sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged”
-Gloucester speaking in sexual innuendos
-shocked Shakespearean audiences
-derogatory term whoreson echo’s the attitudes to illegitimate children in that society
“wherefore should I…
-“stand in the plague of custom”
-1st soliloquy in act 1 scene 2
-evokes sympathy for Edmund
“it is a letter…
-“from my brother that I have not o’read”
-the beginning of Edmund’s manipulation in order to get power
-illegitimate children were entitled to nothing
-Edgar would get everything, Edmund doesn’t think this is fair so wants to get rid of him
-repetition of the letter motif ultimately causes the death of Edmund, foreshadowed
“abhorred villain…
-“unnatural! detested, brutish villain”
-Gloucester falls for Edmunds manipulation of the letter
-letter says that Edgar is planning on killing their father
-repetition of villain contrasts Edgars character
“that he suspects …
-“no one; on whose foolish honesty my practices ride easily”
-oxymoron in Edmund’s second soliloquy
-corruption is shown as he believes Edgar is an easy target for manipulation due to his overtly optimistic outlook on life
“let me…
-“if not by birth, have lands wit; all with me’s meet that I can fashion fit”
-Edmunds Machiavellian traits shown
-contrasting audience reactions thus far to Edmunds character
-Shakespearean would have been outraged as you were meant to stay in your assigned place in society
-modern audiences can understand Edmund’s frustrations, due to our capitalist society
“have you not spoken…
-“gainst the duke of Cornwall ought? Advise yourself”
-Edmund lies to Edgar saying that Gloucester knows where he is hiding and that Cornwall has heard the bad things Edgar has said about him, untrue
-Edmund appears to be helping his brother but in reality wants to get him banished
“wounds…
-“his arm”
-stage direction
-Edmund cuts himself after telling Edgar to run and hide in the woods
-makes it seem like they had a fight, making Edgar seem vicious and therefore capable of murdering their father
“loyal and natural boy…
-“I’ll work the means to make thee capable”
-Gloucester promises to hunt Edgar down
-makes it seem that he is going to now give Edmund land and state despite his illegitimacy
“natures of…
-“such deep trust, we shall much need”
-all other characters only know Edmunds side of the story allowing for manipulation
-Edmund’s plan is working as Cornwall employs him in his service, moving him up the social ranks
“my face…
-“i’ll grime with filth/ outface the winds and persecutions of the sky”
-Edgar is in the woods
-image of him griming his face is a physical representation of the impact of Edmunds manipulation
-outwardly he will be disguised as a mad man but inside he is still Edgar
“poor tom!…
-“Edgar I nothing am”
-fragility of identities in the play
-Nihilistic tone created in this scene as the innocent are banished
-Poverty was extremely prevalent in Shakespearean society, poor tom was a famous beggar
“this courtesy forbid…
-“thee, shall the duke instantly know, the younger rises when the doth fall”
-Edmunds soliloquy to audience
-he is going to reveal Gloucester’s intention to help Lear in the storm
-G+R already said no, this would be treason
-he is saying here that despite him being his father he is still going to tell G+R, so he will lose everything and Edmund will gain it
-to G+R it appears that he is only concerned for the kingdom
“if I die for it…
-“as no less is threatened me, the king, my old master, must be relieved”
-Gloucester’s intention to help Lear, shoes his loyalty and nobility
-aphorism, was he right in doing this?
“I almost mad…
-“myself/ the grief hath crazed my wits”
-the effect on Gloucester on the supposed betrayal of Edgar to him
-doesn’t realise that Edmund is manipulating him
-this links him to Lear
“foul…
-“fiend”
-Edgar reinforces his disguise by saying he is possessed by the devil
“set ratsbane…
-“by his porridge; made him proud of heart, to ride on a boy trotting horse over 4 inched bridges”
-imagery reinforces Edgar’s disguise
-says the devil is telling him to commit suicide, Lear would have believed this
“hag in sloth…
-“fox in sleath”
-Edgar reinforcing disguise
-names animals associated with the 7 deadly sins
“our flesh and blood…
-“my Lord is grown so vile”
-Gloucester resonating with Lear, as he believes Edgar is evil
-dramatic irony as Edgar is standing right in front of him
“he fled after…
-“trying to draw me into his plot to murder you”
-Edmund further manipulating Cornwall in act 3 scene 5
-ensuring he seems innocent so as he can climb the social ladder and gain more power
“now God’s…
-“stand up for bastards!”
-says this to challenge the Shakespearean attitudes to illegitimate children
“I will persevere…
-“in my course of loyalty, through the conflict be sore between that and my blood”
-Edmund pretending to be torn between betraying his father
-ironic as the audience already knows he has
-truly evil character, personification of evil
“my tears begin…
-“to take his part so much, they mar my counterfeiting”
-use of asides, only audience know
-Edgars emotions overpower him
-he almost loses his disguise
