Act 1, Scene 1 - Key events Flashcards
Where is Act 1, Scene 1 set?
King Lear’s Palace
Who is featured in Act 1, Scene 1?
Lear, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, Albany, Cornwall, France, Burgundy, Gloucester, Edmund, Kent
What are Kent and Gloucester discussing as the play opens?
The sudden changes in mind of Lear, implying he is prone to rash decision making.
What is the significance of this conversation?
The scene is set in Lear’s palace but his subordinates are the first to talk. They are also discussing Lear’s unpredictability. All of this undermines Lear’s power.
What is the significance of Edmund’s presence during this conversation?”
He is overlooked by his father, Gloucester, until mentioned by Kent and we learn he is illegitimate.
How does each sister react to Lear’s request?
Goneril provides an elaborate speech about her love for Lear. Regan attempts to one up her sister and issues a similar response. Cordelia refuses to exaggerate and simply tells the blunt truth.
How does Lear react to Cordelia’s response?
At first he is confused, then he is outraged and disowns her as a daughter.
Who speaks out in support of Cordelia and what happens to them?
Kent warns against Lear’s actions but is quickly banished by an enraged Lear.
How does France shock Lear?
He chooses to marry Cordelia anyway, vowing to make her Queen of France instead.
Who closes the scene?
Goneril and Regan.
What are they discussing at the end?
Their father’s old age and worries about what other rash decisions he will make. This marks the beginning of their plot to overthrow him completely.
