King Lear; Violence Imagery Flashcards
(18 cards)
What are the 4 categories of Violence in King Lear?
- Lear Threats of Violence
- Lears Pleads for Violence
- Combat
- Torture
Why and How is Violent imagery employed in King Lear?
King Lear is set in a savage and brutal Britain where violence, torture and physical suffering are so commonplace, it’s unremarkable.
Shakespere uses both these events and grotesque images to highlight the harsh, violent depravity of the setting.
Throughout the play threats, fights and death each occur numerously while being referenced even more so.
At the start of the play when Lear still has power, he issues many threats. However by the middle and end of the play he instead appeals to higher powers pleading them to act on his behalf.
What are 3 quotes the show Lear threats while in a position of power.
- When Lear threatens Cordelia: Nothing will come of nothing.
- When Lear threatens Kent: Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
- When Lear punishes Kent: Our potency made good, take thy reward… be found in thy dominions, the moment is thy death.
Give some context to the quote Nothing will come of nothing.
At the start of the play, Lear tells Cordelia along with his other 2 daughthers they can each have a share of his kingdom. But when Cordelia refuses to suck up to him rather only declaring the truth, Lear threatens her saying Nothing will come of nothing. Here he is saying if she refuses to indulge in his desires, he will strip her of her status and her portion of the kingdom.
Give some context to the quote Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
At the start of the Play, Lear threatens Kent for trying to comment on his decision. He warns Kent to Come not between a dragon and his wrath, basically saying that it is foolish to try get in the way of him as he is the king and can easily excercise his authority on Kent in any way he pleases.
Give some context to the quote Our potency made good, take thy reward… be found in thy dominions, the moment is thy death.
At the end of the first scene, Lear banishes Kent from his kingdom for standing up for Cordelia. He starts off by saying Our potency made good, take they reward which basically means “I am the king, you have earned your punishment”. He then declares that be found in thy dominoins, the moment is thy death, threatening Kent by stating that if he goes against Lear’s words, he will be killed on the spot.
What are 3 quotes the show Lear’s Pleads for violence while in a the absence of power.
- When he threatens Goneril by saying Regan will with her nails, She’ll flay they wolvish image.
- When he threatens Regan and Cornwall calling A higher power for Vengeance! Plague! Death! Confusion!
- When he tells Cordelia that the good years shall devour them ‘em, flesh and fell
Give some context to the quote with her nails, She’ll flay they wolvish image.
At Goneril’s Castle, Lear is no longer in a position of authority, so when Goneril upsets him he instead calls upon Regan with her nails to flay they wolvish image. This quote enforces both that Lear no longer has any real power and the comparison between Goneril, Regan and animalistic beasts.
Give some context to the quote Vengeance! Plague! Death! Confusion!.
At Gloucester’s Castle, Lear is upset at the disrespect upon being ignored by both Cornwall and Regan. Rather than issueing a personal threat he instead calls upon a higher power to issue Vengeance! Plague! Death! Confusion! upon them instead.
Give some context to the quote good years shall devour them ‘em, flesh and fell.
At the British camp near Dover, Lear reassures Cordelia that they are under heavenly protection. Lear tries to reassure Cordelia by saying that the good years shall devour them ‘em, flesh and fell.
Here Lear uses the term good years ironically rather instead actually referring to curses such as disease or misfortune to devour them (their enemies) both flesh and fell (flesh and skin).
What are 3 instance of combat taking place in “King Lear”?
- Edmund staging a mock duel with Edgar.
- Oswald fighting and getting killed by Edgar.
- Edmund fight and getting killed by Edgar.
Describe the initial duel between Edgar and Edmund.
In Act 2, Scene 1 inside Gloucesters castle, To help further deceive Gloucester, Edgar stages a fake combat encounter with Edgar. He tells Edgar to draw his sword and flee the scene, Draw, seem to defend yourself… fly brother! He then cuts himself to make it appear as if they clashed. This performance fully convinces Gloucester of Edgars treachery.
Decribe the duel between Oswald and Edgar.
In Act 4 Scene 6 in the Countryside near Dover Oswald is carrying a letter from Goneril from Edmund in order to continue their scheme. When he sees Gloucester he exclaims A proclaimed prize! Most happy!. Here he is parading the fact that he can collect Gloucesters current bounty. However Edgar (disguised as Poor Tom) intervenes in his disguise to protect Gloucester, fatally wounding Oswald in the process.
Describe the final duel between Edmund and Edgar.
In the Final act of the play at the British camp near Dover, Edgar (still in disguise) is called upon by Albany to represent him as a fighter against Edgar. Edgar accepts declaring to Draw thy sword, That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Thy arm may do thee justice. This encounter was the build up of Edmund machinations and Edgars journey. Edgar manages to beat out Edmund fatally wounding him as he comes to regret his actions.
What are 3 instances that depict Torture?
- The fools indication of torture
- Kent being places in the stocks
- Gloucesters eyes being plucked out
Describe the fools Indicaton of Torture
In Albany’s Palace, The Fool implies that he has been whipped regularly by the King: They’ll have me whipped for speaking true; thou’lt have me whipped for lying. This conveys the idea that no matter what he does, he may be punished for it.
Describe the scene of Kent being thrown in the stocks
At Gloucester’s Castle, Kent is thrown into the stocks for his altercation with Oswald. It is a barbaric and degrading form of torture that prevents its victims from moving. Regan’s apathetic declaration to keep him there Till noon? Till night my lord, and all night too is indicative of her lack of empathy.
Describe the scene of Gloucester being tortured
In Gloucester’s Castle, Gloucester is getting pressed because he helped Lear. He declares that he did Because I would not see they cruel nails, pluck out his poor old eyes;. In a cruel twist they captorss decide to mercislessly pluck his own eyes instead: Upon these eyes of thine I’ll set my foot… Out vile jelly, where is thy luster now?. He is then psychologically tortued when Regan reveals that it was infact Edmund that betrayed him and that he was wrong about Edgar.
