Gloucester Flashcards
(8 cards)
How is Gloucester shown to be supertitious
Tendency to blame external forces and supernatural influence for misfortunate circumstances
“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods”
How does Gloucester appear as weak and rash in the beginning
His rash and ruthless actions towards Edgar
Merely offers mild protests against his doors being shut against Lear
How is Gloucester seen as brave and determined
When Gloucester eventually takes action he is brave in helping Lear on the heath
-Gloucester is particularly heroic in Act 3 Scene 7 when he denounced Goneril and Regan furiously
How is Gloucester sympathised with as a character
His unwavering loyalty to Lear and tormented desire to be reconciled with Edgar redeems him slightly
When does Gloucester die
When his ‘flawed heart’ is ‘twist two extremes of passion,joy and grief’
What does Edgar believe Gloucester died for yet what does the audience think of this
He believes he died for adultery yet the audience view Gloucester as more sinned against than sinning
What role does Gloucester play in terms of Lear
Parallel role to Lear,mirroring Lear in his downfall and developing concern for social justice
-Like Lear he becomes increasingly generous as he suffers
-His death can be seen as a ‘dry run’ for Lear’s
-Some see Gloucester’s passing as a mirror image of Lear’s
How does Gloucester maintain bleak atmosphere during second half of play
His dark thoughts maintain this atmosphere despite the hope of France’s invasion
