king lear power/authority Flashcards
What does Lear decide to do at the start of the play?
Divide the kingdom between his daughters - step down from Kingly duties but wants to keep the title
What does Lear say to let happen to Cordelia?
“let pride, which she calls plainness marry her”
How does Edmund show power in act 1, scene 2?
He convinces Edgar that Gloucester is anger w him and tells him he should leave
What does Edmund want to do?
Overthrow his father so he inherits the money
How many knights does Lear want to keep? What does this say about power?
A hundred knights
Overkill? He wants an obvious physical rep of his power
What does Lear fear in act 1, scene 4?
“Asham’d that thou hast power to shake my manhood”
Immaculate him
Where does Lear have a lack of power in the first act?
Goneril + Regan take his power for themselves bc they want to overthrow him
How does Edmund take power over Gloucester?
Making him think that Edmund was wounded by Edgar
How does Regan take power over Cornwall, her husband?
He tries to explain to Gloucester why they’re there but Regan interrupts + tells G about the letters she got from Lear + Goneril
How does Cornwall take power over Kent?
Puts him in the stocks for the night
What does Regan do to take power over Lear?
Sends him out into the storm alone
What does the fool say about the subversion of the hierarchy?
Lears a “mad yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before him”
What does Lear try to do to take his power back?
Builds a crown out of flowers + plants
What might a marxist say about Lear?
A reaction to the emergence of capitalism
What does the names of characters tell us about value?
“Kent”, “Gloucester”, “France”, “Cornwall”
Named after land - value of a human being is represented by their possessions
What does Lear attach to love? How?
Attaches an economic value to love by giving his daughters land based on how much they love him
How does power affect family?
Goneril, Regan + Edmund take power over their parents by refusing to respect them because they want their fathers’ powe
What is the Feudal system?
Giving land in exchange for duties
How does the Fool take power over Lear?
The fool is the one who tells Lear that he is foolish - ironically the fool seems smarter than Lear at times
What might the play show about power?
How damaging power can be when in the wrong hands; Lear has power just bc he’s born into it
What is carnivalesque?
Playful spirit of the carnival (fool) mocks authority + subverts power relationships
How does Cornwall disrespect Lears power?
“I serve the king” (Kent)
Cornwall puts Lear’s servant in the stocks - disrespects Lear’s power
