Act 2 Summary Flashcards
Act 2, Scene 1
-Edmund learns from a servant that G + R are on way to Gloucester’s house
-Edmund hope Cornwall’s arrival will help plans
-calls for Edgar who was in hiding and tells him to ‘fly this place’
-Edgar runs away and Edmund gives himself wound to make bigger story about Edgar’s treachery (‘Look Sir, I bleed’)
-Gloucester is convinced that Edgar is a ‘murderous caitiff’
-R + Cornwall sympathise with Gloucester over Edgar’s betrayal
-Cornwall tells Edmund ‘For you, Edmund, Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant So much commend itself, you shall be ours’
-R tells Gloucester they are visiting for ‘needful counsel’ on dealing with Lear situation
Act 2, Scene 2
-Oswald turns up at Gloucester’s house and meets Kent (Caius) + the men argue + Kent does insults and draws sword on him for ‘bringing letter against the king’ and taking ‘vanity the puppet’s part against the royalty of her father’
-R, Cornwall, Gloucester and Edmund stop fight and go to put Kent in stocks
-Gloucester speaks up ‘The king his master needs must take it ill’ but R and Cornwall aren’t bothered
-alone Kent reveals to audience letter from Cordelia ‘Who hath most fortunately been informed Of my obscured course’
-Edgar tells audience he will disguise himself as a ‘Bedlam beggar’ called ‘Poor Tom’
-Lear pulls up and wakes Kent (who is in stocks)
-Lear is supper shocked ‘To do upon respect such violent outrage’
-Gloucester tells him G+R won’t see him
-Lear says that R+G ‘hath tied Sharp-toothed unkindness, like a vulture, here’
-R+G together tell Lear they will look after him but not his knights
-Lear calls them ‘unnatural hags’ and walks away from the castle as a storm is brewing
