Essay, Research Paper: King Lear By Shakespeare

Character Sketches

Lear
Lear is an old man, in where his best days have passed. Lear first enters the stage dressed in royal, but as
soon as he speaks we discover that he is an orderless old man. Lear wears a proper cloak; the visible signs
of royalty are present but the intell
Goneril and Regan
Two villains, of which Goneril seems perhaps more vicious than her younger sister. They represent evil as a
significant part of the play.

Kent
Kent has been described as one of the fine, plain characters of the play. He is straightforward and brave, and
he also has the ability to flatter, he shows a sense of loyalty throughout the play.

Cordelia
Cordelia refuses to favor her father in his game of flattery, she disappears. Her character is never well
developed. She demonstrates decency and clean honesty in the play full of evil and desire.

Gloucester
Gloucester's role in the parallel to that of Lear, although Gloucester serves as a model of what can happen if
one does not go mad.

Edgar
Opposite to his brother he is not a villain, but he withholds a good appearance throughout the play. Like his
father, Edgar serves as a foil to the main plot. He is alos a primary connection between the two plots. At the
very end as a loyal son, he is s
Edmund
The villain of Gloucester's plot, the traitorous evil son, serves as a point in where the two plots cross each
other.

Cornwall
The Duke of Cornwall, Regan's Husband, is the perfect portrait of a public man who has given himself in
towards corruption. He gained great place through marriage, and then gave way to his lusts. He gets what
he deserves in the end of the play, death.
Albany
The husband of Goneril, maintains a considerable dignity throughout the play. He is the loyal Englishman
who has accidentally fallen among evil doers.

The Fool
The Fool serves as a relief, to give the Shakespearean audience delight. Not only is he a wise fool, but he is
considerably committed to the side of good. He is a wise fool to teach a king hastening down the road to
madness, but he is not, a funny fool.
Minor Characters

The King of France and the Duke of Burgandy
The Duke of Burgandy is interested in -self-gain rather than love. The King of France on the other hand sees
Cordelia as a beautiful woman with the goodness that Lear ignores.

Oswald
Oswald is an unliked character, supporting Goneril in all of her evil acts. He carries messages between her
and Edmund.

Act I, Scene I
King Lear's palace, Britain. The Earl of Gloucester and the Earl of Kent discuss how Gloucester loves his
sons equally, Edmund (the older) the illegitimate; and Edgar. Although he loves both sons, Edgar is his heir.
Ling Lear enters and announces that he
Act I Scene II
The Earl of Gloucester's castle. Edmund introduces his plot to overthrow the claim of his legitimate brother
Edgar by giving a letter to Gloucester implying Edgar in scheme of treason against his father.

Act I, Scene III
The Duke of Albany's palace. Goneril is irritated with Lear's rude, demanding behavior in their home. She
instructs Oswald, her steward, to tell her servants to be less serviceable to Lear and his knights.

Act I, Scene IV
A hall in the Duke of Albany's palace. Kent returns disguised to serve his king faithfully. Within the scene,
the Fool shares wisdom to Lear in short telling him that he was a fool to give away his titles and land, placing
himself in care of his daughter
Act I, Scene V
The Duke of Albany's palace. Lear sends his disguised Kent to Regan with letters explaining his side of the
argument. The Fool engages Lear in a verbal battle in which the Fool cautions Lear for his unnatural,
unfatherly, unlikely behaviors.

Act II, Scene I
The Earl of Gloucester's castle. Edmund learns that Regan and the Duke of Cornwall will be at the castle
that night, thus setting in motion his new plan to grab hold of his father's title. Edgar enters. Edmund creates
a plot against his brother and urges
Act II, Scene II
Before Gloucester's castle. Kent And Oswald enter; they trade insults and blows and are parted by Edmund,
Regan, Gloucester, and Cornwall. Cornwall suggests that Kent should be placed in stocks while Gloucester
advises against punishment since it would d
Act II, Scene III
A wood. Edgar realizes that he will have no place of refuge as the " traitor son " of Gloucester; therefore, he
resolves to disguise himself as a madman. " Edgar " will become " nothing."

Act II, Scene IV
Before Gloucester's castle with Kent in the stocks. Enter Lear and the Fool to find Kent in the stocks. Lear is
angered by Gloucester when he says that Regan and Cornwall will not see the king. Regan and Cornwall
finally enter, releasing Kent from the st
Act III, Scene I
A heath. Still storms. Kent informs a Gentleman loyal to the king that there is a division between Cornwall
and Albany and that France sends an invasion force to England.

Act III, Scene II
Another part of the heath. Storms maintain their presence. Shouts to the wind about the unnaturalness of
daughters turning against his father. The Fool rhymes that Lear has caused all the trouble himself. Kent
persuades Lear to take shelter in the shack.
Act III, Scene III
Gloucester's castle. Gloucester confides the rift between Cornwall and Albany to Edmund, informs him of the
impending French force, and advises him that they must side with Lear. Edmund plots to tell all to Cornwall,
hoping to depose Gloucester and gain
Act III, Scene IV
The heath before a shack. Lear, Kent and the Fool meet Edgar disguised as " Poor Tom, " a madman and
beggar. Lear's madness and despair at his situation deepens. Gloucester finds the king and tells him of
Goneril's and Regan's commands - to lock Lear ou
Act III, Scene V
Gloucester's castle. Edmund reveals Gloucester's letters describing support of Lear and the French power to
Cornwall. Cornwall grants the Earldom to Edmund who is now referred to as Gloucester by the parties
against Lear.

Act III, Scene VI
A chamber in a farmhouse which is adjoining the castle. Gloucester leaves to find better lodgings than the
farmhouse. Lear holds a false trial of the absent Goneril and Regan with Edgar as the Magistrate, the Fool
as his partner, and Kent as one commissi
Act III, Scene VII
Gloucester's castle. Cornwall sends servants after the elder Gloucester and sends Goneril and Edmund after
the fleeing king. The elder Gloucester is captured, brought before Cornwall, and interrogated. At Regan's
goading, Cornwall attempts to pluckout th
Act IV, Scene I
The heath. Gloucester is led onto the heath by an old man, where they are met by Edgar (still disguised as
Poor Tom). At Gloucester's urgings, Edgar agrees to lead him high cliff at Dover.

Act IV, Scene II
Before the Duke of Albany's palace. Oswald reports to Goneril and Edmund that Albany has changed his
mind about his wife's ambitions and the plight of the king, expressing displeasure's in her actions. Goneril
promises herself to Edmund should Albany not
Act IV, Scene III
The French camp near Dover. A gentleman informs Kent that the King of France has returned home but has
left the Marshal; that Cordelia was moved with tears when she read Kent's letters; and that shame prevents
Lear (who is now in Dover) from seeing Corde
Act IV, Scene IV
A tent in the French camp at Dover. Cordelia sends a soldier to find her father to bring him under her doctor's
care. A messenger tells her that the British Army is advancing towards Dover.

Act IV, Scene V
Gloucester's castle. Oswald notifies Regan that Albany's army is on the march. Since Gloucester's condition
would rouse public outrage against the sister's reign, thus giving strength to the cause of Cordelia and the
French, Regan advises Oswald to post
Act IV, Scene VI
Fields near Dover. Edgar as Poor Tom pretends to take his father to a cliff edge where Gloucester " falls. "
This is done so Edgar may return to his father as a concerned stranger and so Gloucester may believe
himself " reborn " without the " evil spiri " Natural " man. Aftersome discussion, the King begins the last step
of his purification when Gloucester " recognizes " him as king. When a gentleman from Cordalia finds Lear,
he runs, unwilling to face " capture." Oswald enters with the intent to kill Gl

Act IV, Scene VII
A tent in the French camp. Lear has been dressed again in royal robes and wakes to speak with Cordelia.
He asks her forgiveness. A gentleman reveals to Kent that Edmund leads Cornwall's troops.


Act V, Scene I
A tent in the French camp near Dover. Edmund sends a gentleman to find what is Albany's " mind " purpose.
Regan questions Edmund about his intent with Goneril. Albany enters with his wife and soldiers. Ina aside,
Goneril confesses that she does not want
Act V, Scene II
A field between the two camps. The French lose the battle, and Cordelia and Lear are taken captive.

Act V, Scene III
The British camp near Dover. Edmund imprisons Lear and Cordelia. After they are taken off, Edmund
instructs a Captain to hang Cordelia but make it appear to be suicide. Albany, Goneril, and Regan enter.
Albany treats Edmund subserviently. Regan and Goner late. Lear enters, carrying dead Cordelia in his arms.
Lear believes that he sees Cordelia breath, after which he dies. There is some question - and considerable
discussion - about Lear's emotional state when he dies: joyous in perceiving Cordeli's death
Chronological Order of Events:
O Lear tests his daughters love
O Edmund tricks Gloucester into believing Edgar wrote a letter desiring Gloucester's death
O The Fool teaches Lear the difference between a sweet and bitter fool
O Gloucester restates to Edmund his possession of an incriminating letter
O Lear first expresses his fear of madness
O Lear curses Goneril and flees to Regan
O Kent is placed in the stocks
O Regan tells Lear to apologize to Goneril
O Cornwall and Regan shut the doors against Lear
O Edgar disguises himself as Poor Tom
O Lear asks Poor Tom if he gave everything to his daughters
O Cornwall promises Edmund the title of Earl
O Gloucester is blinded by Cornwall and Regan
O Edgar kills Oswald and takes the letter Oswald was to have delivered to Edmund
O Edgar saves his father from suicide
O Albany condemns Goneril's cruel behavior
O Regan is poisoned by her sister
O Lear sees the misery of the " poor wretches "
O Lear carries in the body of Cordelia
O Lear and Cordelia are reunited

Themes

O Natural and Unnatural:
O Self-knowledge and appearance or reputation
O Nothing, " nothing " binds a daughter to her father; " Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again " (Lear I,
Scene I)

Response to King Lear
I enjoyed King Lear very much, because I thought that the play's action didn't drag and maintained itself with
constant action. The play was full of chaos, conflicts, and semi determined ends. I believe that the tragedy
had a strong influence in the play
Metaphors Present:
King Lear is replete with metaphors involving animals or metaphors that decode behavior;
O " Sly as a Fox "
O " Busy as a Bee "
O " How sharper than a serpent's tooth " (Lear, Act I, Scene 4, line 283)
O " She'll flay thy wolvish visage " (Lear, Act I, Scene 4, line 303)
O " Sharp - toothed unkindness, like a vulture, here " (Lear, Act II, Scene 4, line 132)
O " Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain… that in the natures of their lords rebel… Bring oil to fire, snow to
their colder moods… renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks … Knowing naught, like dogs, but
following. " (Kent, Act II, Scene II, l O " She hath abated me of half my train, Look'd black upon me, struck me
with her tongue, most serpent like, upon thy very heart. " (Lear, Act II, Scene 4, line 155)
O " Because I would not see thy cruel nails, pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister, in his anointed
flesh rash boarish fangs. " (Gloucester, Act III, Scene 7) Ingrateful fox, tis he. " (Regan, Act III, Scene 7,
line29)
O " Tigers not daughters, what have you performed. " (Albany, Act IV, Scene II)
O " Edmund, I arrest thee on capital treason; and in thy attaint this gilded serpent. " (Albany, Act V, Scene III)

Imagery (on adjacent papers)

Quotations:
Love:
" What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent. " ( Cordelia, Act I, Scene I)
" I am sure my love's more ponderous than my tongue. " (Cordelia, Act I, Scene I)
Nature:
" Sure her offense must be of such unnatural degree that monsters it. "

" Though the wisdom of Nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself scourged by sequent
effects. Lovecools, friendship falls off, brothers divide. " (I, ii)

" Hear…Nature suspend thy purpose…Create her child of spleen, that it may live and be a thwart disnatured
torment to her. " (I, iv)

" Seeing how loathly opposite I stood to his unnatural purpose. "

To be Known:
" I know what are you and, like a sister, am most loath to call…" ( I,I)

" Who is it that can tell me who I am? " (I, iv)

" Why, what a monstrous fellow are thou, thus rail on one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee! " (II,
ii)

Appearances and Sights:
" Thy youngest daughter not love thee least , nor are those empty - hearted whose low sounds reverb no
hollowness. " (I, I)

" How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell " (I, iv)

Nothing:
" Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again. "(Lear, I, I)
" Away I have nothing to do with thee. " (II, ii)

" I am better than thou art now: I am a Fool, thou art nothing. "(I, vi)

" Nothing . I have sworn. I am firm. " ( I, I)

" Thou are in nothing less than I have proclaimed thee. " (V, iii)