Goneril

Goneril

1. Most abhorrent of the evil characters,

   • Opening scene: we see her hypocrisy when she claims to love her father
     • "more than words can wield the matter"
       • cunning and unscrupulous- she uses flattery to achieve her ends

2. Her utter contempt for Lear is obvious when she refers to him as an

   • "idle old man that still would manage those authorities that he hath given away"
     • determined to take away all that remains of Lear's kingly dignity
       • complains about Lear's "insolent retinue"
         • dismisses half of hem in an instant
   • "these are not personal sins, but an upsetting of civilised values"
     • Helen Norris

3. growing gap between Goneril and her husband

   • "milky gentleness" , "cowish terror"
     • she displays no qualms of conscience about planning her husband's death"

4. Her extraordinary cruelty is dramatically displayed in her desire on Gloucester

   • "pluck out his eyes"
     • Ruthless, vengeful and utterly devoid of humanity
       • truly monstrous

5. KEY ADJECTIVES

   • evil, malevolent, malicious
     • false, deceptive, hypocritical
   • amoral
     • ambtious
       • detestable
   • despicable, contemptible, vile
   • ruthless, inhuman, callous, cruel
     • domineering, autocratic