Act 2 Sc 1

Question 1

“Dispatch” - gloucester (2,1)

Answer 1

extreme response, he wants to kill edgar, despite the fact that there is no real proof other than the letter which the audience know is forged - metaphorical blindness + dramatic irony (reflective of lear/links the two characters)

Question 2

“loyal and natural boy” -gloucester (2,1)

Answer 2

ironic as edgar is a bastard so is not ‘natural’ and is also not loyal as he has betrayed his own brother. Gloucester thinks that edmund is looking out for him but really only has his own intentions at heart

Question 3

‘thou unpossessing bastard, dost thou think..’” Edmund speaks in place of Edgar

Answer 3

verbal forgery rather than written forgery this time. In the letter he pretended to be edgars words written down, and here he pretended to speak edgars voice aloud.

Question 4

‘my old heart is cracked its cracked” Gloucester

Answer 4

repetitive speech indicated Gloucester’s distress
=gloucester disowns edgar: tragic as the audience are aware of edmunds manipulation. Narrative parallels to when Lear disowns Goneril and Cordelia - lears decision causing so much disruption to natural hierarchy

Question 5

gloucester disowns edgar:

Answer 5

tragic as the audience are aware of edmunds manipulation. Narrative parallels to when Lear disowns Goneril and Cordelia - lears decision causing so much disruption to natural hierarchy