king lear quotes Flashcards
What does Cordelia say in act 1, scene 1?
“What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent”
What does Cordelia’s quote in act 1, scene 1 tell us?
Cordelia understand that she can’t match the declarations of love by G+R + refuses to indulge in Lear’s test
What is the analysis of Cordelia’s act 1, scene 1 quote?
Cordelia believes that love doesn’t require elaborate language
What does the Fool say in act 1, scene 4?
“I am better than thou art now. I am a fool, thou art nothing”
What is the interpretation of the Fools quote in act 1, scene 4?
Lear’s lost his place in social order + his identity - w/o the throne + his family he is “nothing”
What’s the analysis of the Fools quote in act 1, scene 4?
The Fool sets up for a joke but instead describes Lear’s situation
What does Lear say in act 1, scene 5?
“Oh, let me not be mad”
What is the interpretation of Lear’s quote in act 1, scene 5?
Lear reflects on how he’s sabotaged his own happiness + begins to fear madness
What is the analysis of Lear’s quote in act 1, scene 5?
Psychological reality to the characters - pleading + desperation
What does Kent say in act 2, scene 2?
“Nothing almost sees miracles but misery”
What is the interpretation of Kent’s quote in act 2, scene 2?
Kent sits in the stocks as punishment for his abuse of Oswald
What is the analysis of Kent’s quote in act 2, scene 2
Lear + Edgar live outside social order ‘nothing’
What does Regan say in act 2, scene 4?
“I pray you, father, being weak, seem so”
What is the interpretation of Regan’s quote in act 2, scene 4?
Regan pressures Lear into giving up his 100 knights asserting her own higher status + power
What’s the analysis of Regan’s quote in act 2, scene 4?
Regan shows politeness but barely disguises her ruthless treatment of Lear
What does Lear say in act 2, scene 4?
“I abjure all roofs, and choose to wage against the enmity o’ the air”
What is the interpretation of Lear’s quote in act 2, scene 4?
Instead of lowering himself within society, he threatens to leave it all together
What is the analysis of Lear’s quote in act 2, scene 4?
‘Air’ - total exposure to natural world + pre-christian Gods
Escape is an abdication of his place in society but also a form on transcendence
What does Lear say about flesh + blood in act 2, scene 4?
“Thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter; or rather a disease that’s in my flesh; which I must call mine”
What’s the interpretation of Lear’s quote in act 2, scene 4 about flesh + blood?
Lear’s conflicting emotions - he used to view Goneril + Regan daughters but now they’re just part of him
What is the analysis of Lear’s quote in act 2, scene 4 about flesh + blood?
“My” + “Mine” is ref to betrayal
Recognition - he now realises how his daughters really see him
“Flesh” - emphasises depth of betrayal
What does the gentleman say in act 3 scene 1 about Lear?
“Contending w the fretful elements; bids the wind blow the earth into the sea”
What is the interpretation of the Gentleman’s quote in act 3, scene 1?
We get a report of Lear’s behaviour; he’s roaming around in the storm
What is the analysis of the Gentleman’s quote in act 3, scene 1?
Lear’s ‘contending’ with the elements which shows his view of his power
‘Fretful’ - rough weather
What is the quote from Lear in act 3, scene 2?
“Rumble thy bellyful! Spit fire! Spout rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters”
What is the interpretation of Lear’s quote in act 3, scene 2?
He wanders the heath in bad weather + subjects himself to nature of the universe
What’s the analysis of Lear’s quote in act 3 scene 2?
Lear personifies the weather
Image of elements suggests Lear urging apocalypse for wickedness of world + his own folly
What does Edmund say in act 3, scene 3?
“The younger rises when the old doth fall”
What’s the interp of Edmunds quote in act 3, scene 3?
Edmund displaced Edgar + wants to overthrow Gloucester
What’s the analysis of Edmunds quote in act 3, scene 3?
He has evil intentions but ironically is stating a natural order of hierarchy
What does Lear say in act 3, scene 4?
“Take physic pomp; expose thyself to feel what wretches feel”
What’s the interpretation of what Lear says in act 3, scene 4?
He finds shelter from the storm + imagines poor ppl in society wo shelter + feels compassion
What’s the analysis of what Lear says in act 3, scene 4?
New, compassionate + humble side of Lear; he evolves
What does Regan say in act 3, scene 7?
“One side will mock the other - th’oher too”
What’s the interp of Regan’s quote in act 3, scene 7?
After Cornwall gouges Gloucesters eyes out - Regan urges him to take the other
What’s the analysis of Regan’s quote in act 3, scene 7?
Enthusiasm for Gloucester’s torture
Joking tone here - lack of respect
Possibly displaced violence towards Lear
What does Edgar say in act 4, scene 1?
“The lowest + most dejected thing of fortune stands still in esperance, lives not in fear”
What’s the interpretation of what Edgar saying in act 4, scene 1?
Edgar dressed as Poor Tom reflects that even at the lowest, theres always hope
What’s the analysis of what Edgar says in act 4, scene 1?
Change in fortune - possibility of hope for the plot
Edgar refers to himself as ‘a thing of fortune’; the reunion of Gloucester + Edgar will follow
What does Albany say to Goneril in act 4, scene 2?
“Oh Goneril, you are worth the dust which the rude wind blows in your face”
What’s the interp of what Albany says to Goneril in act 4, scene 2?
Albany criticises Goneril for her treatment of Lear + he begins to feel guilt
What’s the analysis of Albany’s quote in act 4, scene 2?
Albany turns against Goneril; the play may be moving towards restoration
What does Cordelia say in act 4, scene 3?
“No blown ambition doth our arms incite but love, dear love, and our aged fathers right”
What’s the interpretation of Cordelia’s quote in act 4, scene 3?
Cordelia is now Queen of France; prepared to go to war in Britain but motivated by love
What’s the analysis of Cordelia’s quote in act 4, scene 3?
The play keeps political conflict in the back
Cordelia reminds us that love is ambitious
What does Edgar say in act 4, scene 5?
“Thy life’s a miracle. Speak yet again”
What’s the interp of what Edgar says in act 4, scene 5?
Edgar tricks his blind father, Gloucester into believing the Gods have intervened to save his life
What’s the analysis of Edgar’s quote in act 4, scene 5?
Reunion brings humanity to the play - Gloucester is on the verge of suicide + saved by his son
What does Lear say in act 4, scene 5?
“Through tattered clothes great vices do appear; robes and furred gowns hide all”
What’s the interpretation of Lear’s quote in act 4, scene 5?
‘Mad’ Lear rambles about perceived injustice in the world
What’s the analysis of Lears quote in act 4, scene 5?
Lear, Gloucester + Edgar have lost their high status
Lear could be referring to when he was a king + wore robes but they concealed faults
What does Edgar say in act 5, scene 2?
“Men must endure their going hence even as they’re coming hither. Ripeness is all.”
What’s the interp of what Edgar says in act 5, scene 2?
Death is inevitable + must be endured
What’s the analysis of Edgars quote in act 5, scene 2?
Men must be prepared for trials life brings from bird
What does Edgar say in act 5, scene 3 about flawed hearts?
“His flawed heart, too weak the conflict to support, twixt two extremes of passion, joy + grief, burst smilingly”
What’s the interpretation of Edgars quote in act 5, scene 3?
Edgar said Gloucester died overwhelmed by the conflicting ‘joy’ of Edgar revealing his identity + ‘grief’ of his past sufferings
What’s the analysis of Edgars quote in act 5, scene 3?
‘burst smiling’ shows romanticisation of Gloucesters death
Happy death
What does Edmund say in act 5, scene 3?
“I was contracted to them both; ask three now marry in an instant”
What’s the interp of what Edmund says in act 5, scene 3?
Edmunds manipulation of Goneril + Regan comes to nothing
Him + the 2 sisters will ‘marry’ in death
What’s the analysis of what Edmund says in act 5, scene 3?
Edmunds bitter remark sums up the superficiality of goneril + regan
End to the scheming of the plays antagonist
What does Kent say in act 5, scene 3?
“If fortune brag of 2 she loved + hated, one of them we behold”
What’s the interp of Kents quote in act 5, scene 3?
Lent sees the anguished Lear + dead Cordelia, whom Edgar + Albany tried to save but moments too late
what’s the analysis of Kents quote in act 5, scene 3?
Summarise the fortune in the play
Tension bet fortune + human agency
What does Kent say in act 5, scene 3 about Lear?
“The wonder is he hath endured so long; he but upsurped his life”
What’s the interp of what Kent says in act 5, scene 3 about Lear?
Kent makes sense of Lear’s death, paying tribute to an old, frail man who endured suffering
