Act 1:2 Flashcards
Where does Act 1:2 take place?
It takes place in Gloucesters castle, with Edmund, his bastard son shown first with a letter to show his desire to deviate from social norms
What are the key events within Act 1:2?
- Edmund appears in Gloucesters castle, giving a speech to the audience regarding his disagreement with social conventions
- Edmund forged a letter from the perspective of Edgar which he gives to his father and the letter includes a plan on how to kill Gloucester to be granted a share of his land
- Gloucester is quick to believe this letter
What key quote by Edmund links to his disapproval with social conventions and how is this of tragic significance?
He says ‘with baseness, bastardy ? Base, base?’ This is of tragic significance as it underpins Edmund as the villain due to his anger towards society and this links to what he says prior that society ‘branded’ us in certain ways to suggest that society is a key factor in the wider tragedy
What key quote by Gloucester to discredit his metaphorical blindness and why is this significant?
‘I shall not need spectacles’ makes a direct reference to act 1:1 when Lear is told to see better, and this idea is upheld throughout the play as a criticism of those in society to make clear the issues around the social hierarchy in Jacobean England, where it is made xup of old people ruling
What key quote is of tragic significance, showing Gloucester’s state after Edmund has just handed him the letter?
‘Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain’ - this is of tragic significance as it shows how quick Gloucester is to believe Edmund, which acts as a gateway for villainy to enter the world, but also it adds to the vulnerability of Gloucester as a tragic protagonist, because he has a lack of control over his emotions
