Act 1 Scene 2 key quotes Flashcards
“Thou Nature…” Edmund (1,2)
uses the familiar form for the second person ‘thou’ as if he has a close relationship with nature. Shows his idea of ‘nature’ as things as they are in their natural state: naturally he thinks he is just as good as his brother but questions why according to the laws of society he is seen as unnatural. Physical and metaphorical isolation as Edmund is on stage alone and feels isolated from society and his father/brother. Isolation further shown through him addressing nature informally as if he seeks a personal connection with something else that is removed from society (nature). Also shows a sense of empowerment as he sees himself on the same level as nature.
“Base ..baseness ..bastardy ..base base ..brand ..bastard” Edmund (1,2)
Repetition and alliteration on the plosive ‘B’ sound - frustrated with society and angry/ cant understand. Repetition of ‘bastard’ shows his life is harder than edgars due to his illegitimacy which is reflected in his repeated words of “legitimate”.
“Edmund the base shall top the legitimate” Edmund (1,2)
1st person: I/we= shall
2nd person: you/he/she/they= will
When either shall/will are used with the ‘wrong’ person it is done for emphatic emphasis - here is shows he is determined and confident. The fact that he is speaking in third person is self aggrandising. It’s tragic that he will end up topping edgar (a good person) and the tragedy is worse because edmund is a villain who topples the hierarchy and ultimately ends up on top.
“i shall not need spectacles” “lets see lets see” -Gloucester (1,2)
links to/echoes imagery of eyesight from sc1 and is ironic as he cannot see it clearly. Gloucester cannot see his sons clearly, whilst Lear cannot see his daughters clearly.
“oppression of aged tyranny” -Gloucester READING edmunds words as they are disguised as edgars words in letter (1,2)
talks about the problems of age as the old people have the power and don’t know how to use it, and the young people have to wait until they are old to have power. Old senile people have power and young people allow it
O villain, villain … Abhorred villain.. Unnatural” -Gloucester: (1,2)
Lack of emotional control, expulsive and irrational - the speed at which he explodes and labels Edgar a villain links him to Lear. ‘unnatural’ because what was written goes against society - hypocritical? (he has a bastard son it was his actions etc)
Edmund seek him out” - Gloucester (1,2)
putting his trust into the wrong child, makes him tragic protagonist and links him to Lear.
“late eclipses in the sun and moon” -Gloucester (1,2)
blames it on astrology as if it was fated/ written in the stars - tragic inevitability, sense of loss of control. This is a key difference in the characteristics/ beliefs in him and the older generation vs that of the younger (ie edmund and edgars scepticism in astrology)
SD: Edmund “pockets the letter”
Edmund wants Gloucester to see him ‘hide’ this letter so it does not look staged, scheming and intelligence.
