Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Question for October 14: King Lear, Act III
It could be argued that Lear's command, "Saddle my horses," near the end of Act I summarizes Lear's discoveries in Act I. By the end of the first act, Lear has an inkling that he has made a big mistake by trusting in the love of Goneril and rejecting Cordelia. He must ride away from the daughter he earlier believed would take care of him. In the same way, the commands of Regan and Cornwall to "Shut the doors," and lock Lear out, at the end of Act II, summarize what happens in that act. Lear is shut out not only from the warmth of Regan's castle, but also from the possibility of any warmth in the hearts of his two oldest daughters. What lines do you nominate from Act III that serve a similar summarizing function? Explain your answer.
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There are many similarities between the relationships of King Lear and his three daughters and the relationships of Gloucester and his two sons. King Lear believes his eldest two daughters are more loyal and loving towards him and that Cordelia is not. Lear sends his only loyal daughter away and is not left with nothing after giving all of his wealth away to his eldest daughters.
ReplyDeleteIn a similar way Gloucester believes his illegitimate son, Edmund, is loyal when he tells his father that Edgar is trying to have him killed to take his inheritance early. Gloucester send men out to hunt Edgar and runs him off to become a beggar. When he tries to help King Lear, his "loyal" son Edmund turns him over to Regan and Goneril to be punished. In the end of Act III Gloucester himself is left with nothing and no where to go.
I think that line 91 in Act III, Scene 7 which states: "Thou call'st on him that hates thee" is a very strong line in this scene. When Regan says this to Gloucester he realizes that he has been deceived and has misplaced his trust in the wrong son.
(Sorry it cut off part of my blog entry) cont..
ReplyDeleteLines 94-95 in the same scene say "O my follies! Then Edgar was abused." He realized his mistreatment towards his son. In this was his situation is different from King Lear's because Lear continually has not thought about whether Cordelia is loyal or not. He still thinks she is just as bad as his other two daughters.