The play begins with two noblemen, Gloucester and Kent, discussing the fact that King Lear is about to divide his kingdom. The conversation quickly changes however when Kent asks Gloucester to introduce his son(start of the subplot). Gloucester introduces Edmund, explaining that Edmund is a bastard being raised away from home but he nevertheless loves his son dearly. [this conversation is spoken in pros which suggests is should not be happening or is in secrecy]
King Lear enters his throne and announces his plan to divide the Kingdom among his three daughters. He intends to give up the responsibilities of government and spend his old age visiting his children. He commands his daughters to say which of them love him the most, promising to give the greatest share to that daughter.
Lears scheming older daughters, Goneril and Regan, respond to his test with flattery , telling him wildly overblown term that they love him more than anything else. But Cordelia, Lears youngest (and favorite) daughter, refuses to speak. When pressed, she says she cannot “heave her heart into her mouth” and that she loves him as much a daughter should naturaly love there father and that her sisters wouldnt have husbands if they love him as much as they say. In responce, Lear flies into rage, disowns Cordelia, and divides her share of the kingdom between her two sisters.
The earl of Kent, a nobleman who has served Lear faithfully for many years, is the only courtier who disagrees with Lears actions. Kent tells Lear he is insane to reward the flattery of his older daughters and disown Cordelia, who loves him more than the two sisters do. Lear turns his anger on kent, Banishing him from his kingdom and telling him he must be gone within six days.
The king of France and duke of Burgundy are at Lears court, awaiting his decision as to which of them will marry Cordelia. Lear calls them in and tells them that Cordelia no longer has any title or land. Burgundy withdraws his offer of marriage, but France is impressed by Cordelias honesty and decides to make her his Queen. Lear sends her away without his blessing.
Goneril and Regan scheme together in secrecy. Although they recognize that they now have complete power over the kingdom, they agree that they must act to reduce their fathers remaining authority.
The Inciting Incident was King Lears decision to banish and disown Cordelia. This sparked her sisters actions to gain more power and Edmunds effort at claiming his half brothers inheritance. The quote “nothing will come of nothing” has majour situational irony as we will later lean that everything comes of an act of nothing. Cordelias reply of “nothing my lord” sparked king lears outrage and began the tragedy. Lears reaction includes “Here I disclaim all my parental care”
The quote “which of you shall we say doth love us the most?” exposes lears hubris because it proves that he thinks of himself as the kingdom and the daughters are children of the kingdom as a whole. Lear does not think of him self as an individual but as and idea of ‘king’.
Impulsivity, Blindness, arrogance, pride.
“nothing will come of nothing, speak again”
“come not between a dragon and his wrath”
“the bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft”
“out of my sight!”
“hadst not been born than not to have pleased me better”
Dramatic irony: Scene 1. While the audience gets hinted that Cordelia loves her father the most, the real irony is the secret conversation where we hear Goneril and Regan plotting against their father. They plan to reduce his remaining authority because “If our father carry authority with such disposition as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us” so they agree they “must do something, and i’ the heat”
Scene 2.
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