Quotes Flashcards
Lear
Love Test
“Which of you shall we say doth love us most?”
Scene 1
Provides insight into Lears character, Vanity and insecurity, values flattery, the daughters exaggerations foreshadow their future deception
Cordelia
Love Test
“I cannot heave / My heart into my mouth”.
Scene 1
Values honesty, Contrasts her sisters, Not willing to comprimise her principles, failure to aticualte suggests she actually cant find the words unlike G
Lear threatening Gonoril
“How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it
is / To have a thankless child.”
Scene 4
Vivid metaphor, idea of betrayal and pain from family, highlighting the deeply personal nature of suffering, realising his mistake, turning point
Lear
Nothing
“Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.”
Scene 1
Imperative, feels owed flattery, threat, sets in motion his tragic downfall
Fool
Truthfulness
“Dost thou call me fool, boy?”
“All thy other titles thou hast given away that thou wast born with.”
Scene 4
Honesty contrasts flattery, Perceptiveness, Critises hierarchical structure of society suggesting Lear didn’t earn his title
Lear in storm
“Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage, blow!”
Scene 9
Desire for chaos and distruction, metaphor for inner termoil, confronts the consequences of his actions, healing in some way, leads him to understand himself more? Imperative, Reflects his need to be in control - cant order the weather, mirrors the chaos to come
Lear
Sinning
“I am a man more sinned against than sinning”
Scene 9
Self-reflection, recognises his flaws, victim mentality, Tragic irony - its heavily his fault
Fool
Irony
“This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.”
Scene 11
They already are, blaming natural world
Edgar
compassion
“When we our betters see bearing our woes,
We scarcely think our miseries our foes.”
Scene 13
Edgars insight into human nature and empathy, feels less alone in his misery
Gloucester
Simile
“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods.
They kill us for their sport.”
scene 15
Gloucesters crisis about the lack of divine justice, gods have no mercy or reason
Lear
Madness
“Come, let’s away to prison.
We two alone will sing like birds i’ th’ cage.”
“so we’ll live, And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh At gilded butterflies,”
being sent to prision with C, in Scene 24
Newfound freedom without power, symbolises journey from arrogance to wisdom
Lear + Gonoril
Sisters Manipluation
“I’ll go with thee. Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty, And thou art twice her love.”
“Hear me, my lord. [What need you five and twenty, ten, or five]”
Scene 7
believes promises/words to be equvilant to love, lured him to believe theyre still fighting for his affection, Teamed up against him
Albany
Ending
“The weight of this sad time we must obey; Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. The oldest hath borne most: we that are young Shall never see so much, nor live so long.”
Scene 24
Reflects on tragic events and their impacts, elements of the fool, “Speak less than thou Knowest” and “Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.”,speak what we feel not what we ought to say - cordelia didnt say what she was expected to
Lear
Humble
“I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward, I fear I am not in my perfect mind.”
Scene 21
Come full circle from arrogant lear accusing the fool of calling him a fool, no longer insecure, accepted his fate
Lear
Cordelia’s Death
“Howl howl howl howl!”
Scene 24
Orginally so obsessed with expressing emotion through language, Loses ability to talk, Howls like an animal
