KING LEAR - Act 2 Scene 1

KING LEAR - Act 2 Scene 1

1. In the Great Hall of Gloucester's castle. Curan (Gloucester's assisstant) informs Edmund that Cornwall and Regan are expected soon and plans to use it to his advantage. Curan also tells him of gossip concerning 'likely wars' between Cornwall and Albany, suggesting further strife between brothers

2. Edmund's scheming is going well; he knows Regan and her husband are planning to visit Gloucester and uses it in his plan

3. Edmund calls Edgar from his hiding place and tells him to escape immediately. He asks him whether he's spoken against Cornwall, implying Cornwall and Regan are as enraged against him as Gloucester.

4. Edgar is bewildered and denies abusing Cornwall. Edmund draws him into a mock fight with so no one suspects him. He also tells Edgar to flee because he was told by Edmund that he going to be arrested for plotting against his father (part of the his plan)

5. Edmund deliberately wounds himself and blames Edgar and says that he tried to involve him in a plan to murder Gloucester. He cries out for help and Gloucester rushes in and sends his servants to pursue Edgar

6. Gloucester is fooled and horrified by Edgar and claims he will be caught, no matter how far he goes and will then be executed and so will anyone who helps him

7. Edmund reports a conversation he alleges to have had with his brother. He says that Edgar mocked his bastardy; who would take the word of the illegitimate child against the legitimate one?

8. Meanwhile Regan and Cornwall arrive at Gloucester's castle and because they are more powerful than Gloucester, he had no choice but to welcome them. Also, they had already been told the 'strange news' of Edgar's treachery. Gloucester praises Edmund as a 'loyal and natural boy' and says he will disinherit Edgar.

9. Regan wonders whether Edgar was egged on to thoughts of patricide (killing ones father) by Lear's riotous knights

10. Regan received Goneril's letter, which gives details of the knight's unruly behaviour. Like Goneril, Regan has no intention of giving them room in the house (this is the real reason why she and Cornwall have come to visit Gloucester)

11. Cornwall praises Edmund for showing his father 'a child-like office'

12. Regan wants Gloucester's power and therefore appeals to him for advice about how to answer the letters she has received in order to settle the dispute between her father and sister

13. Themes

14. Motifs