Act 4 Sc 1

Question 1

Thy lowest and most dejecting thing of fortune…” - Edgar (4,1)

Answer 1

saying he’s at the bottom of this turning wheel of fortune, he has hope that things will get better because he thinks things can only get better from this point on as things can’t possibly get any worse. Huge dramatic irony as his father then walks in blinded. Critical to remember that it shows him as a positive character in general.

Question 2

I have no way and therefore want no eyes stumbled when i saw” gloucester (4,1)

Answer 2

tragic irony, he’s saying he doesn’t need eyes now because he is more clear sighted now that he has lost his eyes

Question 3

‘As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, they kill us for their sport” gloucester (4,1)

Answer 3

(loosely translated:”school boys squish flies for fun and the gods play around with humans just as much, they are so powerful compared to us and can determine our lives”) Human beings are completely powerless in the face of gods/heavens/ powers greater than them. Gloucester is clearly a person who feels he has little agency - fatalistic mindset, miserable mindset that he has no power and cannot do anything about his life - suicidal and nihilistic.

Question 4

‘And bring some covering for this naked soul’ Gloucester (4,1)

Answer 4

he is in so much suffering and pain - has just been blinded, he has asked that if the old man insists on helping them to go and get some clothes for poor tom. Parallels between Lear and Gloucester, they both begin to care for others in the times of their own greatest suffering.

Question 5

Edgar doesn’t reveal himself (4,1)

Answer 5

Crux of edgars character: he doesn’t reveal himself to his father even though he can hear everything gloucester says (‘might i live to see thy in m touch, i’d say i had eyes again”)

Question 6

Parallels between Lear and Gloucester in lack of clear sightedness + social anagnorisis (4,1)

Answer 6

-Parallel between gloucester and poor tom and between lear and kent: edgar is disguised and so is kent - gloucester doesn’t recognise edgar as poor tom and Lear doesnt recognise kent as caius
-Parallels between Lear and Gloucester, he sees the inequalities in society, more capitalist views, gives his purse to poor tom as he thinks it’ll make him happier, sees the problems of the world more. Also a lexical parallel to lear in saying “let the superfluous and lust dieted man” ( vs lear in Act 3 sc 4 ‘shake the superflux to them’)