king lear madness Flashcards
What does Kent say as he predicts Lears madness? (Act 1, scene 1)
“When Lear is mad. What would thou do, old man?”
When do we see the start of Lear’s downfall?
When his daughters make him dismiss 50 of his knights for their rowdiness - but he clings to the number 100 bc it reps his independence
What does Lear do after leaving the castle in act 1, scene 2?
He rushes out into the storm
What does the fool represent?
Lear’s conscience that advices him about his actions + mistakes
What may hint at an initial disturbed mindset of Lear? Why is this?
His initial rash decision to divide the kingdom for selfish reasons
Kingship was a divine right
For Lear to give up the throne before death just to enjoy old age would be a rejection of a gift from the gods
What does Goneril say in A1,S3 about old ppl?
“Old fools are babes again”
What does Lear warn Goneril in A2, S4?
“I prithee daughter, do not make me mad”
What reflects Lear’s madness?
The storm
What does Cordelia compare Lear’s insanity to?
“The vex’d sea”
How does Cordelia describe Lear’s physical appearance in act 4 scene 4?
He was singing, made a crown out of weeds, hardocks, hemlock, nettles + flowers
What does Lear’s makeshift crown tell us?
Lear is trying to rebuild his previous identity or reminiscing of the power he previously had
What does Lear see when he looks at Gloucester in act 4 scene 6?
He sees Goneril with a white beard
What does Lear suffer from that catalysis his fall to madness?
Huberis - arrogance
What does Lear say about his wrath in act 1, scene 1?
“Come not between a dragon + his wrath”
Instable
What’s a peripeteia?
Reversal of fortune
What does Lear exclaim when he storms out?
“Oh fool, I shall go mad!”
What does the storm symbolise?
Lears madness
What does Lear command in the storm?
Commands the storm “Rage! Blow!”
Tries to take power over the storm - addresses the elements
Who says madness involves a loss of self identity
Woods
What’s the agnorisis?
Characters recognition
What does Lear recognise + realise?
All those in his kingdom who suffer from poverty + hunger
“I have ta’en too little care of this!”
What do the flowers Lear’s dressed in symbolise?
His madness
What does Edgar exclaim in act 4? What does this show?
“Reason in madness”
Even though lear appears mad, he’s recognising some truths
How does Lear metaphorically describe life?
Life is like a great stage of fools - everyone is pretending to have power
When a baby is born they cry bc they know the truth about their vulnerability
What does Lear say when he wakes up?
“I feel this pin prick”
Sharp clarity + he recognises his own weakness
How is Lear’s madness in the end of the play?
Calm + childlike rather than madness
What does Lear view himself in the storm?
“I am a man more sinn’d against than sinning”
What does Lear say about his wits?
“My wits begin to turn” (when he’s in the storm)
What does madness bring to Lear?
Humble and compassionate feelings
What does Lear say in act 3, scene 4 about his heart? What does this mean?
“Wilt break my heart?”
Lear wants to stay outside in the storm so his physical discomfort will take his mind off his mental suffering which otherwise will break his heart
How does Edgar uphold facade of insanity?
Pretends to talk to an imaginary horse + accuses himself of the deadly sins
What does Lear wish to do when he sees Edgar?
Wishes to identify himself with ‘Poor Tom’
What does Woods say about madness?
“If madness involves a loss of self as identity becomes incoherent, Edgar’s disguise is a form of madness.”
What does Savvas say about suffering?
“It is Lear with whom we suffer”
What does McLaughin say about madness?
“It is the loss of worth coupled w the experience of not being able to do anything about it that drives Lear to madness”
What do Lear’s rash decisions show?
Political insanity
What is the bloodlust of Goneril, Regan + Edmund?
An abhorrent kind of madness
What might psychoanalysis say about Lear’s madness?
Lear’s madness makes him regress a childhood state
What did Bedlam hospitals do?
Housed the mentally ill + inmates were released to beg for survival
How does Lear run around?
“Unbuttoned”
Mentally + physically exposed
What happened in 1603?
Sir Brian Annesley’s eldest daughter + her husband tried to have him certified as a senile lunatic so they could have his property; his youngest daughter challenged her sister in court + saved the father
What does Cunningham say?
“Lear finds wisdom through madness”
