king lear Flashcards
what happens in act 1 scene 1
Earl of Gloucester introduces his illegitimate son Edmund to earl of Kent. Kent also observes he has a legitimate son as well (Edgar). Lear arrives with his daughters Goneril, Regan and Cordelia and explains his intention to abdicate the throne and he will distribute Britain across his 3 daughters and their husbands. He said he would give the largest share to whichever daughter can convince him she loves him most. Goneril and Regan delcare their love effusively but Cordelia simply states that her love is of a daughter to her father and she will also love her husband when she has one. Lear is furious and disinherits her, Kent attempts to dissuade him and gets banished. Burgundy renjects Cordelia but France decides to marry her and take her back to France. Goneril and Regan confer to each other on how to keep their senile father under control.
what happens in act 1 scene 2?
Edmund bewails his legitimacy and decides to steal his brothers inheritance with the help of the letter he holds. Gloucester walks in and Edmund pretends to hide the letter but his father insists upon reading it. It is supposedly from Edgar, proposing to Edmund that they murder Gloucester. Edmund pretends to believe the letter is merely a test of his morals and he offers to arrange for Gloucester to overhear a conversation between the half brothers. Gloucester agrees and leaves; Edmund remarks on naivete. Edgar appears and Edmund tells him that their father is viciously angry with him, warning him to go armed lest he be attacked.
what happens in act 1 scene 3?
Goneril desires to humble her father and instructs her steward Oswald to treat Lear and his followers disdainfully when they arrive.
what happens in act 1 scene 4?
A disguised Kent plans to rejoin the kings court at Gonerils castle. Lear arrives with his followers and Kent is accepted among them. Oswald is surly to the king and to Lear’s delight Kent rails against him, knocks him down and drives him away. Lear’s Fool mocks the king for having surrendered his authority. Goneril appears and scolds Lear for the conduct of his men. She demands that he halve their number and he declares that he will leave and go to Regan. He departs. Albany protests over Goneril’s behaviour but she silences him and sends Oswald with a letter to Regan that details her tactics with their father.
What happens in act 1 scene 5?
Lear sends Kent with a letter to Regan. The Fool again taunts the king for being at the mercy of his daughters
What happens in act 2 scene 1?
Edmund encounters Edgar and advises him to flee for his life. As Gloucester approaches, Edmund tricks Edgar by saying that he must pretend to prevent Edgar’s flight but that he will actually help him escape. He draws his sword and fakes a fight, hustling Edgar away. He then tells Gloucester that Edgar assaulted him when he opposed the murder plot. Gloucester declares he will have Edgar captured and executed and he vols to legitimate Edmund. Cornwall and Regan arrive on a visit to Gloucester; they praise Edmund and take him into their service.
what happens in act 2 scene 2?
Outside Gloucester castle, Kent insults and pummels Oswald as Edmund, Cornwall, Regan and Gloucester appear. Asked to explain his behaviour, Kent declares that Oswald is a hypocrite. Cornwall places Kent in the stocks despite his status as messenger of the king. Gloucester protests but is ignored. When the others leave, Kent muses on a letter he has received from Cordelia who has learned of Lear’s humiliation.
what happens in act 2 scene 3?
Edgar has escaped from a search party and overhead a proclamation that he is outlawed. He decides to disguise himself as a wandering lunatic, taking the name Tom O’ Bedlam.
what happens in act 2 scene 4?
Lear, seeking Regan, arrives at Gloucester castle and finds Kent in the stocks. The Fool calls Kent a fool for attaching himself to a powerless master. Gloucester reports that Regan and Cornwall will not receive Lear, who beings to rage but restrains himself. Regan and Cornwall appear and Kent is freed. Regan defends Goneril against Lear’s complaints as Goneril arrives. The two unite in demanding that Lear dismiss his retinue. The distressed Lear wavers between tears and anger and rages out into a storm that has arisen, followed by Gloucester and the Fool.
What happens in act 3 scene 1?
Kent meets a Gentlemen who reports that Lear is raging madly in the storm, accompanied only by the Fool. Kent asks him to report Lear’s situation to Cordelia who has arrived in Dover with the French army.
what happens in act 3 scene 2?
Lear raves in the storm, cursing his daughters. Kent appears and urges the king to take shelter in a nearby hovel. The Fool bitterly predicts disruption for England, whatever lies in store.
what happens in act 3 scene 3?
Gloucester tells Edmund that Cornwall, his feudal lord, has forbidden him to take Lear in. He confides, however, that he has received a letter assuring that Lear’s revenge is at hand in the form of the French invasion. Edmund decides to inform on his father so he can get his inheritance sooner.
what happens in act 3 scene 4?
Lear, Kent and the Fool approach the hovel. Lear declares that he prefers the storm to the thoughts he would have if he were sheltered but he sends the Fool inside. He reflects on the woes of the poor and homeless, whom he had never considered when he ruled. The Fool reappears, terrified of a madman in the hovel. He is followed by Edgar, disguised as Tom O’Bedlam, who raves about being pursued by devils. Lear sympathise with him, assuming that he too has been betrayed by his daughters. Edgar asserts that his demons are punishment for certain offences: he had been a decadent and immoral servant who slept with his mistress among other sins. Gloucester appears and offers them shelter. He confides to Kent that Lear’s daughters seek the Kings death.
What happens in act 3 scene 5?
Edmund has revealed Gloucester’s correspondence with the French army and Cornwall orders him to have his father arrested.
what happens in act 3 scene 6?
Gloucester leaves Kent, Lear, the Fool and Edgar in a warm room. Lear acts out a criminal trial of Goneril and Regan and finally falls asleep just as Gloucester returns and warns them to flee immediately. Kent and the Fool leave, carrying the sleeping Lear. Edgar, who is left behind, reflects that his own fate does not seem so bad compared with that of the mad King.
