Kent - Role And Characterisation Flashcards
What are the roles of Kent?
- Old world values. - Disruption to order.
- ‘Fool’. -Gives hope.
- Representation of Loyalty,honesty, truth.
- Contrast to Oswald.
What are the characterisation of Kent?
-Loyal, Courageous and stubborn, selfless, modest, impulsive, honest.
How is Kent loyal?
- Returns in disguise to support Lear, even though he faced threat of death.
- Maintains communication with Cordelia.
How is Kent courageous and stubborn?
-Stands up to Lear despite risking banishment, and then returns even under pain of death.
How is Kent selfless?
-Everything he does is to serve Lear. ‘In Act 3 scene 4, when Lear asks ‘wilt break my heart?’ Kent says ‘I had rather break my own’.
How is Kent modest/humble?
When Cordelia tries to thank Kent for his ‘goodness’, he replies, ‘To be acknowledg’d, Madam, is o’er-paid.’
How is Kent impulsive?
(Motivated by his loyalty to Lear): trips up Oswald in Act 1 scene 4; prepared to fight Oswald when meets him again in Act 2, scene 2.
How is Kent honest/truth-teller?
‘What would’st though do, old man?’; in Act 2, Scene 2, he is brutally plain. (Cannot flatter him).
How does Kent represent old world?
Has values of old world: (eg. Ideas of ‘duty’; hierarchy; focus on the physical as opposed to the linguistic etc).
How is Kent like another ‘Fool’?
- Like a ‘jester’ type Fool - tripping up Oswald, funny name-calling in Act 2 scene 2.
- A wise Fool.
How does Kent represent loyalty, honesty, truth?
-He’s in disguise and unrecognised by Lear for much of it illustrates the tragic way in which these qualities are side-lined.
How does Kent represent disruption to natural’order’?
-Kent’s treatment by Cornwall and Regan (put in stocking).
How is Kent a contrast to Oswald?
Oswald is a
