King Lear; Lear Flashcards
(7 cards)
What are our first impressions of Lear and how are they affected by the love test.
When we first meet Lear, he seem to be a powerful, decisive figure. He commands respect and is clearly used to being obeyed. He announces a plan to partition his kingdom amongst his 3 daughters so that he can “shake all cares and business from our age” and enjoy his final years in piece.
However, we soon realise he is vein and egotistical when he explains how he will assign his land. He does so by hosting a “love test” to see who he will provide the “largest bounty” to.
While obvious that Goneril and Regan are flattering him, he is blissfully oblivious, this shows that he is a poor judge of character. What’s worse is that when Cordelia refuses to play along he demonstrates how quick he is to anger by exclaiming that Cordelia has become “a stranger to my heart and me” along with throwing her a barrage of insults.
Describe how Lear responds to Kent’s attempts at reason in the first scene and how this affects our first impression of him.
When Kent asks him to “See better”, he again displays his fiery temper. He warns Kent not to “come between the dragon and his wrath”. From how he handled Cordelia and Kent we get an impression that Lear refuses to listen unless he likes what he hears demonstrating a high level of narcissicm and entitlement.
It’s obvious by the end of the first scene that Lear is impulsive and oblivious, he banishes Kent and disowns Cordelia even though in reality, they are the 2 people most loyal to him. His poor judgement and naivety has lead him to punish the loyal while rewarding the disloyal.
It’s also implied he wasn’t always like this. This is highlighted when Goneril tells Regan “You see how full of changes his age is”. It is becoming evident that he is losing grip on the qualities that made him a great king. It’s also apparent that he understands himself as poorly as those around him highlighted when Regan says “he hath ever but slenderly known himself”
Describe how Lears acts initially When he is retired.
When Lear retires, he seems oblivious of the fact he has no real power. He still lacks judgement and believes he still deserves to be treated like a King. His first display of arrogance upon retirement is on display when he demands dinner be brought to him the moment he arrives at Albany’s palace: “Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go get it ready”.
He rages at Oswald for not treating him like a king: “You whoreson dog! you slave! you cur!” This occurs yet again when Goneril speaks to him about his knights: “Hear, nature hear; dear goddess, hear!… body never spring a babe to honour her!”. This shows that even though he isn’t king anymore, he still expects to be treated as one.
However its also worth noting that after this temper, beings experiencing sorrow, becoming aware that his judgement was poor with Cordelia: “O most small fault, how ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!”. This indicates a level of reflection. This transition to sadness is also taken out on Goneril commenting “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is / To have a thankless child!”. This scene highlights Lears lack of control over his own emotions.
Decribe how Lears actions and personality differ from Scene 1 & 4?
While still behaving rash, Lear is slowly beginning to realise he is no longer powerful or commands respect like before. He is becoming aware of his misjudgement of Cordelia: “Woe, that too late repents”. And Only now does he begin to see that the love test was foolish: “Oh Lear, Lear, Lear… thy dear judgement out!.
However Lear still has a long way to go before he is self-aware. He still believes that despite Gonerils treatment of him, Regan will welcome him properly and side with him: “I have another daugther / Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable”.
Lear’s pride and anger still drive him but he’s becoming less of the dragon and more aware than when we initially saw him. He is beginning to see that he isn’t all powerful and that his threats are meaningless now. He is becoming a helpless old man and is starting to fear that he might lose his mind, which is indicated when leaving Goneril’s house: “Oh let me not be mad, not mad sweet heaven!”.
Describe Lears character in the Storm scene.
Lear upon being driven out to the storm starts to undergo rapid change. The scene starts with Lear calling upon the storm to destroy the entire world: “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage Blow! You cataracts and hurricanoes”. It is his wish that the world be so devistated by the storm that mankind will be wiped out. Lear’s fury and despair are evident in this scene.
The storm reflects the mental tempest in Lear’s mind and aids to distract him from his sorrow and anger at his daughters treatment of him: “This tempest will not give me leave to ponder / On things that would hurt me more”.
Lear also begins to become aware of the suffering of others. He worries that the Fool is cold, and begins to see that he is only “A poor, inform weak despis’d old man. On meeting Poor Tom, he empathizes with him to the point of stripping off his clothes: “Off, Off you Lendings!”. It is clear Lear is beginning to develop a social conscience and feels ashamed for his actions as time as King.
Describe Lears decent into Madness.
Although gradually present throughout the play, Lear truly begins to go mad during the Storm Scene. He is aware he is losing his grip on reality: “my wits have begun to turn”. He is consumed with fury and obsesses with his daughters ill treatment of him. This is on full display during the disturbing mock trial. He has furtniture represent Goneril and Regan and he even goes onto accuse Poor Tom, Kent and The Fool of conspiring against him before starting to ramble.
By the time he’s brought to Dover to meet Cordelia, Lear is truly mad. He wanders around fields near the French camp aimlessly ashamed to face Cordelia due to how he treated her. although insane, he is now more self-aware than ever before. He even tells Cordelia that “I am a very foolish, fond old man” and that “If you have poison for me, I will drink it”. He talks nonsense, yet he has learned much about himself and his subjects. He has fully realised he is just a man
Describe the death of Lear and his general character arc
In the final, tragic scene, Lear enters with the body of Cordelia in his arms. He is utterly grief-stricken and is convinced his cries of despair will reach the angels: “Had I your tongues and eyes I’d use them so that heaven’s vault should crack.”.
Lear cannot fully accept Cordelia is dead. He clings to hope, calling for a mirror so “that her breath will mist or stain the stone”. This indicates his deep desperation and fondness of Cordelia. There is an echo of the form king’s power when we learn he kille d the man who hanged Cordelia. However, his grief is too much for him to bear and he dies a broken man.
At the start of the play Lear is narcissistic, entitled, arrogant and not very wise. But by the end of the play this is flipped on his head, he develops empathy and self-awareness. And even though he has gone completely mad, he is more wise now then ever before.
