King Lear (25 page)

Goneril’s speech is effusive but ambiguous, as she declares that she loves her father “more than word can wield the matter.” Regan is similarly flattering but ambiguous, telling Lear to “prize” her at Goneril’s “worth,” as she is “made of that self-mettle” as her sister. Cordelia’s asides show her dilemma—she is torn between genuine love for her father and reluctance or inability to voice this before the court. She is offered “a third more opulent” than her sisters—unlike Gloucester, Lear does not even suggest he values his daughters equally. In contrast to her sisters, Cordelia’s response is simply “Nothing.” Lear encourages her to say more, because “Nothing will come of nothing,” a concept that is explored throughout the play. Lear disinherits Cordelia, and Kent’s attempts to speak up for her fuel his anger.

Retaining a hundred knights, Lear divides his kingdom between Goneril and Regan, intending to live with each of them for alternate months. Kent intervenes, showing respect for Lear, but suggesting that he is not thinking clearly and urging him to “check / This hideous rashness.” Lear banishes Kent.

Lines 194–281:
Lear explains to the King of France and Duke of Burgundy that Cordelia’s “price is fallen.” She is no longer “dear” to him, a word that highlights his belief that love is quantifiable. Burgundy cannot decide, so Lear offers his daughter to France but says he would not want him to marry a “wretch” that “Nature is ashamed” of. France asks what Cordelia’s “monstrous” offense is and she asks Lear to make it clear that it is lack of the “glib and oily art” of false speech. Burgundy says that he will take her with her original dowry. Echoing Cordelia, Lear declares that this is “Nothing,” so Burgundy declines. France sees Cordelia’s virtues and comments that “unprized precious” Cordelia is “most rich, being poor,” highlighting France and Lear’s differing perceptions of “worth,” and challenging Lear’s assertion that “Nothing will come of nothing.”

Lines 282–299:
Leaving with France, Cordelia says goodbye “with washèd eyes,” suggesting tears but also clear perception of her sisters’ characters.

Lines 300–323:
Goneril and Regan discuss Lear’s “poor judgement” and the “changes” and “infirmity” of his old age, but Regan observes that “he hath ever but slenderly known himself.” Goneril expresses concern about Lear’s desire for authority. Regan agrees that they must “think” about this, but Goneril says that they “must do something,” highlighting a subtle difference between them.

Lines 1–22:
Edmund is angry that he will not inherit. He protests about the label “base” and argues that he is as good as “honest madam’s issue”—better, even, because there was passion in his conception. He reveals his designs on Edgar’s inheritance.

Lines 23–107:
Edmund conceals a letter from Gloucester in a way that draws attention to it. He tells Gloucester it is “Nothing,” but then pretends that it is from Edgar. Gloucester reads its contents, which suggest that Edgar and Edmund should murder Gloucester and split the inheritance. Edmund manipulates Gloucester, who is easily persuaded that Edgar is an “unnatural” villain. Edmund pretends to plead on Edgar’s behalf and arranges that Gloucester will overhear a conversation between them. Gloucester exits, blaming all the problems in family and state on “These late eclipses in the sun and moon.”

Lines 108–161:
Edmund is scornful of those who believe that destiny is decided by the stars and blame their “evil” on “a divine thrusting on,” thus raising a debate between free will and fate, as he claims that the stars have no influence on his personality or fortune. Edgar interrupts and Edmund changes behavior on “cue,” suggesting his directorial role in the action. He persuades Edgar that Gloucester is angry with him and suggests that they avoid meeting. Giving Edgar the key to his lodging, he promises to help.

Goneril and her steward Oswald discuss Lear’s irrational temper. She gives instructions to say that she is ill and cannot see Lear and that the servants are to ignore him.

Lines 1–89:
Kent is disguised, but while his appearance has changed, his nature has not—he is still an “honest-hearted fellow.” Not recognizing him, Lear employs Kent and asks Oswald for Goneril, but is ignored. One of Lear’s knights says that Oswald refuses to come back, that Goneril is unwell, and points out that Lear has been neglected recently. When Oswald reappears, he is disrespectful and Lear loses his temper. Kent trips Oswald up and insults him, earning Lear’s thanks.

Lines 90–174:
Lear’s Fool delivers a series of jokes, riddles, nonsense, and rhymes. These have comic effect, but they are also
ambiguous, providing perceptive comment on Lear’s circumstances and reinforcing some key themes such as cruelty, division, and folly. In the Quarto text, Kent comments that “This is not altogether fool my lord.”

Lines 175–297:
Goneril lists her grievances. Lear’s temper and language become wilder, suggesting the growing disquiet of his mind. The interjections of the Fool, combining nonsense and wisdom, contribute to the growing disorder. Albany ineffectually attempts to calm Lear, who curses Goneril with either sterility or the future birth of a “child of spleen.” He leaves. Goneril ignores Albany, showing where the power lies in their relationship. Lear returns, having discovered that Goneril has reduced his train of knights by fifty. Despite uncontrollable anger, his tears suggest weakness. He decides to go to Regan, saying she will “flay” Goneril’s “wolfish visage”—an example of the animal imagery associated with the two sisters.

Lines 298–325:
Goneril claims it is unwise to allow Lear to enforce the whims of his old age, and calls Oswald to take a letter to Regan. She criticizes Albany for his “milky gentleness.”

Lear sends letters to Gloucester with Kent, then struggles against madness as he talks to his Fool.

Lines 1–91:
Edmund urges Edgar to escape, suggesting that Cornwall believes Edgar is plotting against him, and that Gloucester is in pursuit. Edmund directs Edgar’s flight, pretending that he is helping, but convincing Gloucester’s party that he is trying to stop him. He wounds his own arm and tells Gloucester that Edgar stabbed him when he refused to help Edgar. Gloucester tells “Loyal and natural” Edmund that he will make him his heir.

Lines 92–140:
Gloucester confirms Cornwall and Regan’s queries about Edgar. Cornwall praises Edmund, takes him into his service,
then begins to explain their arrival. Regan interrupts, showing her dominance, and claims that she wanted Gloucester’s advice on letters from Lear and Goneril.

Lines 1–144:
Outside Gloucester’s castle, Oswald claims not to know the disguised Kent, who insults and beats him. While Cornwall attempts to establish how the quarrel started, Kent continues to insult Oswald, who explains that Kent (who calls himself “Caius”) is in Lear’s service. Cornwall comments on Kent’s plain-spoken nature, but ironically assumes that his “plainness / Harbour[s] more craft and more corrupter ends” and places him in the stocks. In the Quarto text, Gloucester argues stocks are for “basest and “temnest wretches” and it is insulting to Lear to punish his messenger in them.

Lines 145–166:
Gloucester apologizes and says that he will plead for Kent’s release, but Kent says not to. Kent’s soliloquy reveals that he has a letter from Cordelia.

Lines 167–187:
Edgar intends to disguise himself as a mad beggar from Bedlam. Edgar’s soliloquy and the following sequence are sometimes edited and played as separate scenes, but the action continues uninterrupted in that Kent remains onstage asleep in the stocks.

Lines 188–271:
Lear will not believe that Regan and Cornwall have put Kent in the stocks—it is an “outrage” “upon respect.” Fighting his rising anger, Lear goes to confront them. The Fool comments on Kent’s folly in continuing to serve Lear.

Lines 272–383:
Enraged that Regan and Cornwall will not speak with him, Lear sends Gloucester to summon them. His language reflects his growing disturbance, which he fights to suppress—“my rising heart! But, down!” When they arrive, Lear pours out his grievances against Goneril. Regan responds in a reasoned but insulting manner, saying that Lear is old and needs to be “ruled and led,” and suggests that he ask Goneril’s forgiveness. Lear’s pride and anger
rise, but he thinks Regan will acknowledge the “dues of gratitude” that he has bought with “half o’th’kingdom.”

Lines 384–515:
Goneril and Regan unite against Lear, gradually reducing his number of knights—a symbol of his power—until he has nothing. He reminds them of what they owe him—“I gave you all.” When Regan asks whether Lear needs even one follower, he replies “O, reason not the need! Our basest beggars / Are in the poorest thing superfluous: / Allow not nature more than nature needs, / Man’s life is cheap as beast’s.” The encounter of king and beggar, the question of “superfluity,” and the stripping down from courtly accoutrements to raw nature are at the core of the play. Lear asks the heavens for patience, but the growing storm reflects his turbulent mind and he leaves in “high rage” to go out onto the heath. Goneril, Regan, and Cornwall tell Gloucester to shut his doors against Lear and the storm.

In this act, the relatively brief and fast-paced scenes move between different locations and characters. This, combined with the evocation of the storm, creates a sense of chaos that mirrors the breakdown of Lear’s reason and kingdom.

Kent learns that Lear is on the heath in the storm with the Fool. He reveals that the French have spies in the courts of Cornwall and Albany, between whom dissension is growing. Kent gives the Gentleman a ring to show to Cordelia as confirmation of his true identity.

Lear’s disordered speech reflects his mental state as he invokes nature to destroy mankind and “Strike flat the thick rotundity o’th’world.” In his chaotic speeches there are recurrent references to children, ingratitude, and justice as he blames his daughters for his situation. The Fool encourages Lear to shelter, commenting that the “night pities neither wise men nor fools,” drawing attention to the blurred distinctions between wisdom and folly, sanity and insanity.
Lear rages about justice, still denying any responsibility and asserting that he is “a man / More sinned against than sinning.” Kent persuades him to take shelter in a nearby hovel while he begs Goneril and Regan for shelter. Alone, the Fool speaks a rhymed “prophecy” that perhaps transcends the context of the play, warning against the injustices and corruption of “Albion” (Britain).

Gloucester has been refused permission to help Lear and has lost control of his castle. He reveals that Edmund has a letter concerning Cornwall and Albany locked in his closet, and that he intends to help Lear. He asks Edmund to tell Cornwall that he is ill, to prevent his assistance of Lear being discovered. Once alone, Edmund reveals his intention to betray Gloucester.

Lines 1–103:
Kent tries to persuade Lear to enter the hovel out of the storm, but Lear is more concerned with the “tempest” in his mind and remains outside, dwelling on “Poor naked wretches” who, “houseless” and “unfed,” have no defense against the elements. In a moment of brief self-awareness he declares: “O, I have ta’en / Too little care of this!” The Fool is frightened out of the hovel by Edgar, in disguise as the near-naked “Poor Tom.” In a pitiful and ironic contrast to the genuine insanity of Lear, “Tom” feigns madness through fragmented speech. Like the Fool’s nonsense, however, there are recognizable themes, pertinent to the play, such as lust, devilishness, and nakedness. Lear continues to dwell on his troubles, insisting that “Nothing” but “unkind daughters” could have “subdued nature / To such a lowness” in Tom. Asking “Is man no more than this?,” Lear removes his clothes, approaching the raw condition of “the thing itself: unaccommodated man.”

Lines 104–178:
In a confused conversation that evokes the external storm and the “tempest” inside Lear’s head, Gloucester and Kent attempt to persuade Lear to enter Gloucester’s castle. Tom interjects
with “insane” comments that focus on demons and witchcraft, but are taken by Lear to be the words of a “philosopher” and “learnèd Theban.” Ironically, Gloucester talks of Edgar and “poor banished” Kent.

Edmund has betrayed Gloucester. Cornwall swears that he will have revenge and rewards Edmund by giving him his father’s title. Edmund pretends to be distressed at having to betray Gloucester, but plans to make it worse by discovering him “comforting the king.”

Gloucester shows Kent, Lear, Tom, and the Fool into a farmhouse adjoining his castle. The dialogue is fragmented as Lear continues to focus on injustice, the Fool continues to produce sense in nonsense, and Edgar acts his part as madman. Kent’s voice of reason is unable to prevail. In a Quarto-only sequence, Lear insists on holding a “trial” of Goneril and Regan, seeing them before him in his madness. With Tom and the Fool as judges, this episode highlights the distorted nature of justice so far in the play. Edgar’s pity for Lear makes it hard to sustain his “counterfeiting,” and after Gloucester leads the others away, he rejects his disguise.

Cornwall sends Goneril to tell Albany that France has landed, instructing Edmund to accompany her. Oswald informs Cornwall that Lear has gone to Dover. Gloucester is brought for questioning. Regan cruelly encourages the servant to bind Gloucester “hard” and disrespectfully plucks his beard. He admits that he sent Lear to Dover to protect him from Regan’s “cruel nails” and Goneril’s “boarish fangs.” Cornwall puts out one of Gloucester’s eyes. A servant tries to help Gloucester, but as Cornwall fights him, Regan seizes a sword—a symbol of her “unwomanly” power—and stabs the servant. Cornwall takes Gloucester’s other eye as Regan reveals that it was
Edmund who betrayed him. Gloucester thus gains metaphorical “sight” as he is literally blinded. Regan orders Gloucester to be put out onto the heath to “smell / His way to Dover.” She leads the mortally injured Cornwall away. In the Quarto text, the remaining servants discuss Regan’s lack of womanly feeling, offer first aid to Gloucester and vow to get “the Bedlam” (Tom) to lead him to Dover.