Characterisation King Lear Characterisation Lear’s Character Key Quotes Which of you shall we say doth The proud old king instigates a public ‘love test’ to decide how love us most? to divide the kingdom between Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. This disastrous act will result in tragic consequences for all. (Lear to his daughters) Act 1, Scene 1, l.47 Come not between the dragon and Lear refuses to listen to his loyal courtier when Kent tries to his wrath make him see the terrible mistake he is making in banishing Cordelia. Animal imagery reinforces the savagery of life in the (Lear to Kent) Act 1, Scene 1, l.119 deceptive court. let me still remain/ The true blank Lear inspires loyalty. Kent’s allegiance transcends circumstances of thine eye and he devotes his life to the king. Having offended his master by coming to Cordelia’s aid and speaking the truth, Kent has (Kent to Lear) Act 1, Scene 1, l.155–6 disguised himself and now asks to serve Lear as his honest adviser. O most small fault,/ How ugly Horrified at Goneril’s cold-heartedness, Lear realises that he has didst thou in Cordelia show! mistreated Cordelia by punishing her for her refusal to flatter him. This marks an important stage in his painful journey from (Lear to Goneril) Act 1, Scene 4, l.252–3 blindness to insight. O, Regan, Goneril!/ Your old Having divided his kingdom between his two elder daughters, kind father, whose frank heart Lear is appalled at their cruel treatment of him, reducing his gave all −/ O, that way madness number of knights and shutting him out in the storm. He is lies caught between self-pity and growing fears that he will lose his mind over their ingratitude. (Lear) Act 3, Scene 4, l.19–21 1 King Lear Characterisation O, I have taken/ Too little care of In another step towards self-awareness, Lear realises that when this! he was a powerful king, he lacked concern for the disadvantaged poor. His social conscience is developing through his suffering (Lear) Act 3, Scene 4, l.32–3 and affliction. Let me wipe it first; it smells of After encountering Poor Tom on the heath, the old king mortality universalises his view of life, seeing it as a tragic experience filled with disappointment and filial ingratitude. For Lear, human (Lear to Gloucester) Act 4, Scene 6, l.131 existence is repulsive, signified by his unwashed hand. Robes and furred gowns Lear is now becoming conscious of the hypocrisy at court, where hide all wealth and position can often conceal wrongdoing. Appearance and reality contrast. Until now, the old king has already made (Lear to Gloucester) Act 4, Scene 6, l.159 serious mistakes because he did not understand this. forget and forgive A humble Lear asks his youngest daughter’s forgiveness for his harsh treatment of her. His simple, dignified language contrasts (Lear to Cordelia) Act 4 Scene 7, l.86 with his over-blown rhetoric in earlier scenes when he behaved like a tyrannical patriarch. Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, When confronted with the horror of his dead child, the have life,/ And thou no breath heartbroken father asks the universal question: Why? He at all? recognises the injustice of Cordelia’s death. His deep love for her gives the audience a more sympathetic view of him. (Lear) Act 5, Scene 3, l.315–6 2 Characterisation Characterisation King Lear Gloucester’s Character Key Quotes this knave came something saucily Gloucester’s unfeeling and glib remark about Edmund’s birth into the world outside marriage betrays his tactless character. Is it any surprise that Edmund feels bitter? (Gloucester to Kent) Act 1, Scene 1, l.17–8 He cannot be such a monster The outraged father has been very easily duped by the hypocritical Edmund into condemning his true son Edgar, (Gloucester on Edgar) Act 1, Scene 2, l.88 without giving him any chance to defend himself. These late eclipses in the sun and Gloucester is highly superstitious; instead of accepting moon portend no good to us responsibility for his actions, he blames planetary movements. (Gloucester to Edmund) Act 1, Scene 2, l.96–7 I would have all well betwixt you The cautious court diplomat tries ineffectually to smooth relations between the enraged king and his ungrateful (Gloucester to Lear) Act 2, Scene 4, l.116 daughters. I stumbled when I saw The earl now recognises his great mistake in harshly judging his true son Edgar. Ironically, it is only now that he is blind that he (Gloucester to Old Man) Act 4, Scene 1, l.19 sees the truth about his children. As flies to wanton boys are we to Gloucester’s depressing view of a universe of random cruelty the gods./ They kill us for their is vividly captured in the simile of malicious boys tearing the sport wings off helpless insects for their own amusement. (Lear) Act 3, Scene 4, l.32–3 But his flawed heart,/ Alack, too Like Lear, Gloucester dies of heartbreak. His reunion with Edgar weak the conflict to support!/ is impossible to bear and he is overwhelmed by conflicting ’Twixt two extremes of passion, joy feelings of happiness and sorrow. He has been punished harshly and grief,/ Burst smilingly for his errors of judgement and dies in a frenzy of emotion. (Edgar describes Gloucester’s death) Act 5, Scene 3, 202–5 3 King Lear Characterisation Cordelia’s Character Key Quotes I love your majesty/ According to Lear’s youngest daughter refuses to take part in the ‘love test’. my bond Cordelia is a restrained, sensible person – and as stubborn as her father. She loves him as a daughter should and will not indulge (Cordelia to Lear) Act 1, Scene 1, l.89–90 the old king in a public charade of false feeling. I want that glib and oily art,/ Cordelia tries to reason with the infuriated Lear, who has To speak and purpose not disowned and disinherited her for disobedience. Unfortunately, she fails to get him to understand that words are cheap and not (Cordelia to Lear) Act 1, Scene 1, l.223–4 always followed by the actions they promise. Use well our father Before Cordelia leaves court with the King of France, she warns her sisters to treat her father well, despite his cruel treatment of (Cordelia to Goneril and Regan) Act 1, Scene 1, l.270 her. She is fully aware of their cold-blooded natures and fears for her father’s safety. Cordelia is never afraid to speak her mind. O dear father,/ It is thy business Shakespeare makes it clear to the audience that Cordelia has that I go about arrived at Dover with French troops not to conquer Britain but to help her distressed father. Once again, she is proving the truth of (Cordelia) Act 4, Scene 4, l.23–4 her statement that she loves her father as she should. Was this a face to be opposed Cordelia speaks eloquently to her sleeping father and shows against the warring winds? deep and genuine affection for him. She is appalled at the savage treatment of the old king at the hands of his two (Cordelia to Lear) Act 4, Scene 7, l.32–3 ungrateful daughters whom she always suspected would behave in this way. No cause, no cause When her father awakens, Cordelia reverts to her restrained mode of speech. She forgives the old king readily for his harsh (Cordelia to Lear) Act 4, Scene 7, l.77 mistreatment of her and refuses to accept that she should punish him. 4 Characterisation Characterisation King Lear Edmund’s Character Key Quotes Why brand they us/ With base? Edmund is deeply hurt by the way he is treated by society because of the circumstances of his birth. He is made to feel (Edmund) Act 1, Scene 2, l.9–10 inferior even by his father and is not entitled to inherit anything. He argues that it is unfair for him to be deprived. it is a letter from my brother, that In the first of many acts of subterfuge, Edmund pretends to hide I have not all over-read a letter that he eventually says is from his brother. This makes Gloucester curious and he insists on seeing it. The audience is (Edmund to Gloucester) Act 1, Scene 2, l.36–7 aware that Edmund has both written and signed it to incriminate Edgar. My practices ride easy There is no denying Edmund’s persuasive powers. He himself is well aware of how clever he is, and takes great delight in (Edmund) Act 1, Scene 2, l.168 outwitting his naive father and trusting brother. Edmund, I hear that you have Gloucester has been so convinced by Edmund’s lies that he has shown your father/ A child-like praised him to Cornwall, who further rewards him. Audiences are office left aghast at Edmund’s effrontery. But is he a victim as well as a villain? (Cornwall to Edmund) Act 2, Scene 1, 106–7 If I find him comforting the king, it Not content with inheriting Gloucester’s wealth and lands, will stuff his suspicion more fully Edmund betrays his unfortunate father to Cornwall in order to gain advancement. He uses every opportunity to advance his (Edmund) Act 3, Scene 5, l.17–8 own interests. To take the widow/ Exasperates, Both sisters are in love with Edmund. Regan has lost her makes mad her sister Goneril / And husband, so if Edmund chooses her, he can marry her and hardly shall I carry out my side,/ become Duke.