Goodness & Reconciliation

Goodness & Reconciliation

1. "How dost, my boy? art cold? ... Poor fool and knave, I have one part in my heart, that's sorry yet for thee"

   • Even while L teeters on the brink of insanity - feels pity for the fool. L has been shown no compassion yet still exhibits it.

2. "Poor naked wretches, whereso'er you are"

   • L had never before thought about the plight of homelessness. - first time he acknowledges the poor & realises his error in not using his power and authority to solve this problem. - causes great empathy for L as he seems to have come to a sense of realisation.

3. Shakespear's good characters, are considered good because they are loyal even when they are disguised from or unrecognizable by those to whom they owe loyalty. Their loyalty does not waver even when they are banished or mistreated by those to whom they are loyal. C, Edg & K are all characters that exemplify this goodness and unwavering loyalty.

4. C - refuses to flatter her father in order to deceive him out of his wealth, she also accepts her father's punishment and leaves willingly even though she knows it is not a just punishment. She expresses no animosity toward L, instead she asks her sisters to care for him.

   • This unwavering loyalty is also exhibited later in the play when C finds L and realizes he is mad. She cares for him and gives him medicinal herbs until he is well again. Even when L begs for her forgiveness she insists that she has no cause to be offended.
   • "Thy medicine on my lips; an dlet this kiss repair those violent harms that my two sisters have in thy reverence made" ..."Kind and dear princess!"
     • discover truly honest & forgiving nature of C - reveals she has one of the kindest, loving hearts in the play - comes naturally.

5. "This speech of yours hath moved me, and shall perchance do good"

   • Even Edm - main villain of play? - is moved by pity when Edg describes death of father. - Edm with his last breath tries to redeem himself & tries to save L & C's lives. Too late and C has been killed, though L survives - Edm does some good by end of play?

6. Edg - like C, he is quick to forgive G for casting him out of society etc. - He sees G is hurt and misleads father when he says he wants to be set at the very edge of a cliff in order to save him from despair.

   • "Why i do trifle thus with his despair is done to cure it."
   • His loyalty and compassion is again expressed when he takes G to safety from the battle - "Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend."

7. K demonstrates depth of loyalty by returning disguised as 'Caius' to serve L, despite having been banished.

   • K is one of the last characters in the play along with Alb & Edg - all good, truthful and compassionate characters - suggests hope and enlightenment at the end of the play - what is meant to come out of a tragedy - S trying to convey a message that dishonest and lying people will be punished in the end?