Deceit/honesty Flashcards
“If for I want that glib and oily art, to speak and purpose not.”
-glib: fluent but insincere
-metaphor for “glib and oily art” reflects R and G sycophantic declerations
-Cordelia the foil of her sisters
“(Takes out a letter)”
-Edmond’s fake letter from Edgar
-letters seem to represent deceit and dishonesty as they usually are to communicate secretly
“Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these like rats.”
-paradoxical phrase “smiling rogues” shows deceit in people loyalty
-simile of rats: rats connote disloyalty
“For there was never yet fair woman but she made mouths in a glass”
-“made mouths” practicing a smile in the mirror suggesting it’s fake
-metaphor for the fake loyalty of characters such as Regan and Goneril
“Why dost thou lash that whore? Thou hotly lusts to see her in that kind for which thou whipped her”
-Lear is talking of the hypocrisy of a Beadle punishing a prostitute despite wanting to hire her
-metaphor for the dishonesty and deceit of his daughters: they took away his power yet used it themselves
“Tis gilded serpent”
-Albany described Edmond as a snake which connotes duplicitous behaviour
“What you have charged me with that have u done, Tis past and so am I”
- Edmond admits to his crimes and plot (anagnorosis whilst on the verge of death)
“Speak what we feel not what we ought to say”
-Edgar ends the play on this warning to be honest
- could be Shakespeare warning audience to be truthful
