King Lear; Goneril Flashcards
(4 cards)
What is our First impression of Goneril?
Goneril manipulative nature is apparent rather quickly as she is the first to speak in the love test. She provides a flowery speech claiming to love Lear “more than words can wield the matter… Beyond what can be valued”.
When Cordelia leaves, Goneril tells Regan that she is concerned by “how full of changes his age is” Lear has been recently and she wonders at his “poor judgement” in banishing Cordelia. Goneril fears that Lear may forget he has abdicated his throne. She wishes to act fast in curbing his power and insists to Regand “We must do something, and i’ the heat”.
It is abundantly clear from the opening that Goneril is a manipulator in terms of both people and language. She is a hypocrit for flattering her father for his promises yet completely lacking concern for her elderly father that she achknowledges isn’t well. She exhibits no gratitude for her fathers donation and her last conversation with Regan exhibits her cold, calculating nature.
How does Goneril act in Acts 1 & 2?
Goneril is annoyed at her father, saying “By day and night he wrongs me” and vows “I will not endure it”. When Lear comes back from hunting she plans to be unavailable and tells her servents to treat Lear with “weary negligence” and hopes to provoke a confrontation displaying her cunning: “I would breed from hench occassions and I shall, / That I may speak”. When she does finally talk with Lear, she attacks Lear’s insolent retinue”.
When Goneril arrives at Gloucester’s castle, Regan welcomes her by taking her hand. Lear is appled to see his daughters unite against him. Goneril asks Lear why he needs any followers at all. After all, she reasons, he could “receive attendance / From those that she calls servents, or from mine”. Goneril and Regan keep reducing the number of knights they let Lear have until they settle on none at all.
When Lear storms out into the night, Goneril lacks any ‘semblance sympathy saying that it’s Lears own fault that he lacks shelter. She says he “must needs taste his folly” and brutally tells Gloucester not to go after him. This scene shows that Goneril is not only manipulative, but also apathetic to her victims, even if they are family.
How does Goneril act in Acts 3 & 4?
Goneril’s levels of apathy and depravity are both on full display during the torture of Gloucester. When Gloucester mentions that he will not see thy nails, pluck out his poor old eyes, Gloucester think it would be both humorous and fitting if they Pluck out his eyes instead.
Later when Edmund arrives, Goneril kisses him and uses sexually charfed language to show her feelings for him. She hints that if Albany were to die, she would take him as her Lover saying “a woman’s services are due”. Goneril is evidently shameless in her evil and cares not for Albany, her husband.
When he enters, he attacks Goneril calling her and Regan “Tigers, not daughters”. Goneril is unrepentant and unimpressed calling Albany a Milk-livered man who should Marry, your manhood, mew,”.
When she learns Cornwalls dead she mourns not his death but rather is pleased since it will weaken Regan her sister, but worries that she might make a move for Edmund. This thought process indicates her twisted priorities and vile nature.
How does Goneril act in Act 5?
In Act 5 scene 1 when Goneril enters to find Regan deep in conversation, she privately says she would “rather lose the battle than that sister / Should loosen him and me” however says aloud she wants everyone to focus on the impending battle with France: “Combine together ‘gainst the enemy.. the question here”. This instance highlights her two-faced nature indicating that her relationship with Regan has deteriorised into jealousy and hostility.
In scene 3, Goneril challenges Regan’s claim that she will marry Edmund saying he does not need her support: “In his own grace he doth exalt himself, / More than in your addition”. Albany then has both her and Edmund arrested refering to her as a gilded serpent. Goneril then admits to poisoning Regan saying I’ll never trust medicine.
Goneril after watching Edmund get fatally wounded says he’s been cozened and beguiled and then claims that she is above the law: Who can arraign me for’t? Then she leaves. It is later revealed she committed suicide.
Goneril throughout this entire act is irrideemably depraved and lacks any sort of common sense, good judgement, or basic morality. She killed herself and her sister over a potential relationship for a man who loves neither of them while she herself is married. To me personally this is the most gob-smacking, barbaric, and insane sequence of events throughout the entire play.
