King Lear; Gloucester Flashcards
(5 cards)
What are our First Impressions of Gloucester?
Our first impression of Gloucester is that of a typical ‘hail, fellow, well met’ individual. He jokes shamelessly to Kent about Edmund’s illigitimacy and the “good sport of his making” while Edmund is present. While not necessarily displaying malicious intent, it does display a great level of insensitity and unawareness.
His belief in Astrology also helps illustrate this unaware, not particularly clever idea of Gloucester: “These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us”. This is further enforced by the ease of which Edmund deceived him into believing that Edgar is betraying him.
Discuss Gloucester’s Loyalty
Gloucester is a well-respected figure in the kingdom, as is proven by the fact Regan came to him seeking his “needful counsel”. He shows loyalty and respect to Lear even after his abdication. He posesses the courage to openly challenge Kent being put in the stocks: “the king must take ill… Should have him thus restrain’d”. When his request was denied, he displays compassion towards Kent: “I am sorry for thee, friend”
Gloucester also attempts to serve as peacemaker in the climactic confrontation between Lear and his daughters. He sides with the Lear while doing his best to calm his rage: “I would have all well betwixt you”. He also points out how ferocious the storm is in order to appeal to the daughers’ sympathy: “Alack! The night comes on… There’s scarce a bush”.
Discuss Gloucester’s Bravery
Gloucester posesses a moral conscious shown by his abhorrance for the treament of Lear: “I like not this unnatural dealing”.
Gloucester also shows great fortitude and resilience by denying his captors after being betrayed: “I am tied to the stake, and must stand the course”. Even in the face of being tortured, he shows a great deal of loyalty and bravery. He also displayes remarkable courage in his expressions of disguest for the 2 evil daughter’s behavior: “I would not see thy cruel nails… stick boarish fangs”.
Even when Gloucester learns that it was Edmund who betrayed him, he is not filled with self-pity but instead expresses remorse for his treatment of Edgar and prays for his forgiveness and his son’s salvation: “O my follies! Then Edgar was abused. / Kind gods, forgive me that and prosper him!”. His instinctual reaction to search for forgiveness from who he hurt rather than to victimise himself despite the situation he is in shows a great deal of compassion.
Discuss Gloucester’s Insight and Compassion
One of Gloucester’s main functions is to act as a parallel to Lear. Like the king, he undergoes horrendous physical and mental turmoil and attains a degree of wisdom and self-awareness as a result.
Gloucester achknowledges that his blinding helped him realise the truth of things: “I stumbled when I saw”. This self-awareness deeply contrasts our first impression of the character. He also then goes on to show great compassion for those who try help him seen when he urges the old man to leave for his own sake: “Away get thee away… Thee they may hurt”.
Like Lear, Gloucester develops a sense of social justice. When giving Edgar his purse, he declares “So distribution should undo excess, / And each man have enough”. As with the king, Gloucester has been reduced to the lowest level before he realises the priviledged and pampered nature of his former existance.
Discuss Gloucester’s Despairing
Gloucester’s suffering has also lead him to a state of despair where he wishes to commit suicide. He sees recent events as proof that the gods are malevolent and torture men for their own amusement: “As flies to wanton boys, are we to th’ gods; They kill us for their sport”.
The fact he survives his suicide attempt only adds to Gloucester’s hopelessness. He is denied even the solace of choosing to end his own misery: “Is wretchedness depriv’d that benefit to end itself in death”? Edgar’s encouraging words seem to temporarily uplift him: “henceforth I’ll bear / Affliction till it do cry out itself”. But once he receives the news of Cordelia, he hopes for the end once again: “a man may not even be here”.
Although he does eventually flee with Edgar, we sense that Gloucester is near the end of his tether, We can at least draw some consolation form the fact that he dies with his son beside him, and has the comfort of knowing that one of his sons loved him unconditionally. It is a more easy death to bare than Lear’s.
