King Lear

King Lear

1. Lear wants to be free from responsibilites

   • 3 daughters - Goneril, Regan & Cordelia
     • Goneril & Regan make false speeches about their love for Lear
       • Cordelia is more noble/honest and says she loves him as much as a daughter should love a father - NO more, No less
         • Lear disowns and banishes her
           • Kent tries to talk to Lear - telling him he is irrational
             • Kent is banished ~ 6 days to leave kingdom. If not gone within 10 days, he will be killed
               • Cordelia's suitors: Duke Burgundy & King of France
                 • Duke Burgundy asked - will he marry Cordelia with no dowry - he won't
                   • Lear liked King of France - advised him to walk away
                     • France listens to what she had done - respected her honesty. Speaks up for her. Still wants to marry her.
                       • Goneril & Regan scheming together to reduce Lear power.

2. Edmund soliloquy ~ plotting to get rid of his brother Edgar

   • Illegimate son ~ Edmund ~ Unable to inherit his fathers estate
     • Edmund pretends to "hide" letter. Gloucester wants to see it and read it.
       • Gloucester appalled ~ letter shows Edgar wants both himself and Edmund to kill their father and split his wealth
         • Edmund ~ gloating/smug, mocks his fathers belief in Astrology (star signs)
           • Edgar is totally confused. He hasn't fallen out with his father
             • Edmund tells him to carry a weapon for protection (this will make him look guilty)

3. Lear is spending time with Goneril at her house

   • She plots with Oswald ~ he is to be rowdy, rude and discouteous. Tell all servants to follow suit
     • Writes to Regan so she will support her and treat Lear with coldness

4. Kent is disguished. Asks Lear can he be his servent

   • Oswald rude to Lear, Kent trips him and stands up for Lear
     • Lear glad to see this servents nobility ~ invites Kent for dinner
       • Fool says his daughter is using him
         • Irony as the Fool can see what is happening. Says Lear is a fool for handing over his kingdom
           • Goneril enters in foul mood. Fool mocks that Lear has to care about her mood
             • Fool says Lear is like a little sparrow that raised a cuckoo in its next and had its head bitten off when the cuckoo grew into an adult bird
               • Goneril wants Lear to be more sinsible
                 • Lear asks who he is if he is not Lear. Pretends not to know Goneril and asks her name
                   • Goneril unhappy with his behaviour and wants him to get rid of most of the servents
                     • Lear appalled and says he is leaving for Regans
                       • Lear begins to regret banishing Cordelia ~ her fault only small compared to Goneril betrayal
                         • Lear curses her calling on nature to leave her childless or if she has a child that it torments her
                           • Lear leaves for Regans. Warns she won't be happy with Goneril treatment of him
                             • Threatens to take back his kingship to get revenge on her
                               • Albany tries to tell Goneril how annoyed he is
                                 • She ignores him accussing him as foolish and weak for taking Lear side
                                   • Sends Oswald to Regan to get her to reduce Lear's power

5. Lear sends Kent to get a message to Regan

   • Fool tries to distract Lear and makes jokes at his decisions
     • Fool says Regan won't treat him any better
       • Fool says Lear is old but not wise
         • Lear calls on heaven to keep him from going mad