Gloucester: Role & Charecterisation

Question 1

What are all the characterisations of Gloucester?

Answer 1

Lustful, Superstitious, Gullible and Rash, Blind, Bystander/limited in power, Loyal.

Question 2

What are all the roles of Gloucester?

Answer 2

Represents old world/feudal values, Lack of justice, Inequalities of feudal society, A foil/parallel of Lear.

Question 3

How is Gloucester lustful?

Answer 3

His adultery ultimately results in his tragedy via the machinations of Edmund. Edgar: ‘Cost him his eyes’.

Question 4

How is Gloucester superstitious?

Answer 4

‘These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us’. A1.S2.

Question 5

How is Gloucester gullible and Rash?

Answer 5

Quick to condemn Edgar as an ‘Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain!’ A1.S2.

Question 6

How is Gloucester a bystander, limited in power?

Answer 6

Can’t fetch Cornwall and Regan when Lear demands it; he is seen outside his own palace while Cornwall and Regan are within. A2.S4.

Question 7

How is Gloucester loyal?

Answer 7

Despite limited power, shows his loyalty to Lear when he risks death to help him (‘If I die for it […] the King, my old master, must be reliev’d.’ A3.S3.

Question 8

How does Gloucester represent ‘old world’/feudal values?

Answer 8

Represents feudal values – and the vulnerability of these values (both he and Lear are old men, and flawed characters)

Question 9

How is Gloucester a reminder of lack of justice?

Answer 9

His torture and blinding in A3.S7 serves as a reminder of injustice in the play (following immediately after the mock trial scene that Lear attempts to carry out.

Question 10

How is Gloucester a foil/parallel to Lear?

Answer 10

• Lear suffers in mind - G suffers in body.
• G offstage death - Lear’s death onstage.
• Both ‘blind’ about children.

Question 11

How is Gloucester selfless in Act 3 scene 3?

Answer 11

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