Act 5 Sc 1

Question 1

“I had rather lose the battle than that sister should loosen him and me” Goneril (5,1)

Answer 1

Clear rivalry between the sisters over edmund, the real battle the care about is over edmund not over the country

Question 2

“Where I could not be honest I never yet was valiant” Albany (5,1)

Answer 2

We see a sense of balance and hesitation in Albany here, he does not was to disrespect or dishonour King Lear yet he still needs to defend his land and therefore put his army against the French who happen to be protecting Lear. Not someone who is going to throw himself into fighting where he doesn’t see that the cause is just. That connection between fighting and the rightness of the fighting. Reminds us of Edgar after he had killed Oswald, he didn’t want to have to kill anyone but he knew that Oswald did have to die.

Question 3

To both these sisters i have sworn my love, Each jealous of the other as the stung are of the adder” Edmund (5,1)

Answer 3

Adder= british isles only poisonous snake. Animalistic imagery, they are frequently described in terms of animalistic imagery which is significant in their characterisation as animals do not have morals - like goneril and regan. Animalistic instinctive behaviour rather than morality and humanity.

Question 4

-[as albany is leaving enter edgar] (5,1)

Answer 4

Tense on stage as it is just edgar and albany on stage together and audience know that edgar is going to show albany the letter from goneril