Act 2 Sc 2 Flashcards
As if i were a fool’ Kent (2,2)
kent has been fool like in another way than people laughing at his speeches as he suggests, kent here is speaking the truth which is the other fool like trait, he’s telling the truth about people like oswald (‘su h smiling robes as these”) showing how oswald has no backbone and follows what their leader and because kent is the opposite of oswald in the sense that he has stood up to power when he challenged lear giving his authority to say this to oswald as he is a sycophant (meaning he can say this to oswald because he’s not a hypocrite)
Till noon? Till night, my lord, and all night too” - Regan (2,2)
pushes Cornwall to greater villainy (link act 3 sc7) by making kent stan stocks longer. Cornwall is top of hierarchy but Regan still speaks and encourages him even though she does not need to speak - female voice being heard
> is this a message that shakespeare is sending? The only female voices that are heard are that of villainous women? (feminist criticism)
Fortune, good night, smile once more turn thy wheel’ Kent
if you’re at the bottom the only way is up and if you’re at the top the only way is down, fate wheel of fate - hopeful that things will get better.
“bring oil to fire and snow to their colder moods” Kent (2,2)
kent talking about oswald and illustrates his sycophancy which is one of the problems of this tragedy that there are people who are willing to go along with villainy- and how he’s just supporting goneril without question. Kent has authority and can actually take action, he speaks out because he can - Kent being this fool like character in such a philosophical point.
“i have seen better faces in my time” kent
ridiculing oswald - moment of humour perhaps for audience
‘wait check him for’t. Your purposed low correction” gloucester
Gloucester shows that he holds the old world hierarchy close and shows that putting kent in the stocks would be a major disrespect of hierarchy which he recognises. He tries to intervene and stop the disruption of hierarchy BUT tragic because he is ignored because he is socially lower than Cornwall so is not taken seriously
Hope generated by cordelias letter to kent.
Glimmer of hope in Kent’s speech when he’s alone on stage, reading a letter from Cordelia, because it shows a communication still going on between Cordelia and Kent, both of whom are supportive of Lear and therefore does show some hope for the future. These glimmers of hope begin to add up which adds to the end tragedy as it makes it far more devastating.
