King Lear Act 1 Questions

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King Lear questions Act 1.1 1. What do we learn from 1.1.1-6? What has changed? What is going to happen to the kingdom? We learn that King Lear is dividing the kingdom into his daughters and their husbands; Cordelia, Goneril - Duke of Albany, Regan - Duke of Cornwall. He announces his intention to step down from the throne and distribute his land among his daughters. 2. What do we learn from the discussion about Gloucester's son Edmund (1.1.7-32)? Which of Gloucester's sons is older (and thus would be his heir if both were legitimate)? What do we learn about Gloucester through his attitude towards Edmund? Edgar is older and Gloucester’s legitimate son, whereas Edmund is his “bastard” younger son - whom he loves equally as his “real” son. Despite Gloucestor saying that he has “a son by order of law, some year older than this, who yet is no dearer in my account” (1.1.19-20), he continuously calls him his “bastard son”. 3. What is Lear's plan (1.1.35-52)? What has happened to this plan by 1.1.121? What key word appears several times in 1.1.87-93? By what supernatural powers does Lear swear in 1.1.110- 113? (Watch references to the gods and other supernatural powers in the play.) What is Lear's new plan for the future by 1.1.122-140? Lear’s plan is to divide his kingdom among his 3 daughters in a way to prove their love to him. He plans to give the largest share of his kingdom to the daughter who loves him the most (already planned to give his youngest daughter more). However, by 1.1.121, his plan unravels with his 2 older daughters professing their love to him using extravagant and insincere language, but his youngest, Cordelia doesn’t abide by this. He gets fooled by their false flattery and divides the kingdom between the 2 and disinherits the youngest. The keyword that appears several times is “nothing” - present when Cordelia expresses her love “nothing will come of nothing” said by the King - that she won't get anything. Lear swears by “they mysteries of Hecate and the night” as well as “the gods” to disown his daughter, Cordelia. His new plan is to give Cordelia’s share to Cornwall and Albany.

4. What does Kent do beginning in 1.1.121 and continuing in 1.1.140-168? (Notice the language of sight and seeing in 1.1.158-159 and watch this language, along with the language of blindness, through the play.) What has happened to him by 1.1.189? How much of what has happened concerning Cordelia and Kent does Gloucester know about at 1.1.189? Why? Where has Gloucester been since 1.1.34? Kent speaks out against King Lear’s decision to inherit Cordelia and cast her aside - he criticizes the king’s rash actions and attempts to defend Cordelia’s honesty and loyalty. His outspokenness angers Lear, who orders Kent to get out as well. The reference to the language of sight and seeing is seen when Lear says “Out of my sight” - emphasizes his anger and desire to no longer see Kent. By 1.1.189, Kent is placed in stocks and subjected to this punishment for his defiance of Lear’s decision regarding Cordelia. Gloucester is not fully aware of the details of what has happened concerning Cordelia and Kent - knowing Cordelia has been inherited but he is not aware of the specifics of the punishment. This lack of knowledge is because Gloucester has been absent since 1.1.34, which means he was not present during the earlier part of the scene where Lear made his rash decision and issued Kent's punishment. Gloucester has been away from the immediate action and is not fully informed about the developments that occurred in his absence. 5. Why does Burgundy reject Cordelia as his wife? Why does France accept her? Burgundy - Burgundy had initially agreed to marry Cordelia as part of the dowry offered by King Lear. However, when Cordelia is disinherited and Lear disowns her, her dowry is significantly reduced, and she is no longer a suitable match for Burgundy. He is primarily interested in the financial benefits of the marriage and is not willing to marry Cordelia without a substantial dowry. Burgundy sees Cordelia's reduced status as a deal-breaker and chooses to reject her. France - France's decision is not based on material wealth or financial gain. He accepts Cordelia as his wife because he truly loves her. When he hears Cordelia's sincere and honest expression of her love for her father, he is moved by her words and character. France values Cordelia's integrity and virtue over her potential dowry. He sees her as a woman of great worth, regardless of her reduced status in her father's eyes.

6. How honest in their presentations to Lear do Goneril and Regan appear to have been by 1.1.268-308? What sort of picture of Lear do we get from them? Based on what we've seen of Lear so far, how accurate does their description seem to be? Goneril and Regan initially appear to be extremely dishonest in their presentations to Lear. They use exaggerated and insincere language to profess their love for their father, suggesting that their words are more of a calculated effort to gain a larger share of the kingdom than a genuine expression of love. They flatter Lear excessively and compete with each other to outdo their declarations of love, making it evident that their motivations are driven by personal gain and ambition rather than true affection. The picture of Lear that emerges from their speeches is one of a father who is easily flattered and manipulated by flattery. Lear is depicted as a ruler who values grandiose expressions of love and loyalty, which makes him susceptible to the false words and empty praises offered by his older daughters. From what we've seen of Lear so far, their description of him as a king who values outward displays of love and loyalty is accurate. Lear appears to be a monarch who seeks affirmation and validation from his daughters, especially in his old age. However, this vulnerability to flattery leads to his downfall, as he misunderstands the true nature of his daughters and makes a hasty and unwise decision to divide his kingdom based on their words. This decision sets the tragic events of the play into motion. 1.2 1. Read Edmund's soliloquy (1.2.1-22) carefully. What do we learn about him and his plans? What does he seem to mean by the word "nature"? ("Nature," "natural," and "unnatural" are words to keep watching through the play.) What is he planning to do? What device has he already prepared (1.2.19-20)? In his soliloquy, Edmund expresses his resentment and bitterness at being illegitimate and, therefore, excluded from the privileges and inheritance that his legitimate half-brother, Edgar, enjoys. He feels wronged by society and fate. He uses the concept of "nature" to suggest that his birth, being a "bastard," is considered unnatural and outside the societal norms. Edmund's primary motivation is to change his situation and acquire power and status for himself. He is determined to take control of his own destiny, regardless of societal expectations and norms. In this context, "nature" refers to the natural order of things, societal norms, and the established hierarchy. Edmund is challenging the conventional belief that being born as a bastard makes him somehow unnatural or inferior. He questions the idea that his birth should define his worth and status.

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Edmund is planning to manipulate those around him, particularly his father, the Earl of Gloucester, into believing that his legitimate half-brother, Edgar, is plotting against their father. He hopes to create a rift between them, ultimately leading to Edgar's banishment or death, which would eliminate a potential obstacle to Edmund's ambitions. In the lines 1.2.19-20, Edmund mentions that he has already "framed the business" in his own way. This implies that he has devised a scheme or plot to make it appear as though Edgar is involved in treacherous activities. He is prepared to use deception and manipulation to achieve his goals. 2. How does Edmund get his father to read the letter (1.2.23-45)? Does the language of 1.2.31-36 sound like anything we've heard before in the play? Edmund persuades his father, the Earl of Gloucester, to read the letter by pretending to be deeply concerned for his father's safety and claiming that he has intercepted a letter detailing a plot against him. The language he uses to convince Gloucester is filled with concern and feigned loyalty. The language in lines 1.2.31-36 does resemble the language of flattery and insincere professions of love that we heard earlier in the play, specifically in Act 1, Scene 1 when Goneril and Regan falsely profess their love for King Lear. Just as Goneril and Regan used extravagant language to manipulate their father, Edmund employs similar tactics to manipulate Gloucester. He pretends to be a loyal and loving son who is genuinely concerned about his father's well-being, even though his true intentions are to further his own ambitions and eliminate his legitimate half- brother, Edgar. This use of flattery and manipulation is a recurring theme in the play, and it highlights the power of deceptive language and the willingness of characters to use it to achieve their goals. 3. What does "Edgar" say in the letter (1.2.46-54)? Who really wrote the letter? Are you surprised at Gloucester's response in 1.2.76-77 to what Edmund said in 1.2.72-75? Does Gloucester mean the same thing by "natural" (based on his use of "unnatural" in 1.2.77) as Edmund means by the word? In the letter that "Edgar" supposedly wrote, the content is a fabrication created by Edmund. The letter falsely accuses Edgar of plotting to kill their father, the Earl of Gloucester. The letter implies that Edgar seeks to inherit his father's estate and power by nefarious means. It's important to note that Edgar is innocent, and the letter is part of Edmund's scheme to discredit and harm his legitimate half-brother.

Gloucester's response in lines 1.2.76-77 to what Edmund says in 1.2.72-75 is indeed surprising. Edmund has manipulated his father into believing that Edgar is a threat, and Gloucester, despite his initial skepticism, seems to accept Edmund's claims and shows readiness to believe that Edgar is involved in treacherous activities. When Gloucester uses the word "unnatural" in 1.2.77, it may not carry the same connotations as Edmund's use of "natural" in his earlier soliloquy. Edmund used "natural" to challenge societal norms and assert his own legitimacy despite being born a bastard. In Gloucester's case, when he uses "unnatural," he might be referring to behavior that goes against familial bonds and filial loyalty. He may perceive Edgar's supposed betrayal as a violation of the natural expectations of a son's loyalty to his father. 4. What explanation for the strange events happening does Gloucester give in 1.2.103-116? By now, what does he believe about Edgar? Based on how much evidence? How does Edmund, in his soliloquy (1.2.117-135), respond to what Gloucester has just said? What is his view of the nature of humanity (he would say "man") and the universe? (Or is it unfair to him and to "humanity" to modernize "whoremaster man" as "whoremaster humanity" when he's obviously thinking only of males as "man"? But then, what about Edmund's mother-or is it unfair to assume a willingness on her part when her partner (Gloucester) was either a lord or, at that time, the son of a lord? How likely is it that she was of the same social rank? See how easy it is to start "deconstructing" a text when we start asking questions the author didn't expect us to ask? Or did he?) Gloucester provides an explanation for the strange events happening, particularly the letter he received accusing Edgar of plotting against him. Gloucester suggests that the recent celestial and natural disturbances, such as eclipses and earthquakes, have had an effect on human behavior. He believes that these events can influence human actions and that people are more likely to act irrationally during such times. By this point, Gloucester has come to believe that Edgar is involved in treacherous activities, and he is basing his belief on the forged letter, the recent natural disturbances, and, to some extent, the information provided by his son, Edmund. In his subsequent soliloquy (1.2.117-135), Edmund responds to Gloucester's explanation with a more cynical and Machiavellian perspective. Edmund expresses a view of humanity as driven by self-interest and personal ambition rather than being influenced by cosmic events. He suggests that human actions are not determined by the heavens or divine fate but by individual desires and motivations. He dismisses the idea of being "whoremaster man," implying that human nature is inherently driven by base desires and self-gratification. This view aligns with his own ambitions and his willingness to manipulate those around him for personal gain.

Given the information provided in "King Lear" and the societal norms of the time, it is plausible to consider that Edmund's mother may have come from a lower social rank than Gloucester. Society during the time of the play placed great importance on social status, and marriages often occurred within similar social circles. Edmund's illegitimate status already marks him as socially disadvantaged, and it's possible that his mother was not of the same social rank as Gloucester. 5. In the rest of the scene (1.2.134-180), how easily does Edgar fall for Edmund's plot? What does Edmund try to make Edgar believe has happened? Why does Edmund expect that Edgar can be manipulated by Edmund's obviously hypocritical (to us, given his most recent soliloquy) use of the same astrological "evidence" that Gloucester made use of? How does Edmund react to his success in his short soliloquy at the end of the scene (1.2.174-180)? Note another use of "nature" in line 176. Edgar, who is initially unsuspecting, quickly falls for Edmund's plot. Edmund manipulates him by falsely claiming that their father, Gloucester, is angry and searching for Edgar because he has received a letter accusing Edgar of plotting against him. Edmund tries to make Edgar believe that the same celestial and natural disturbances mentioned earlier, such as the eclipses and unnatural occurrences, are now being interpreted as signs of Edgar's treachery. Edmund expects that Edgar can be manipulated using the same astrological "evidence" that Gloucester used because he knows that Edgar is likely to be superstitious and may be influenced by the same kind of irrational fears that Gloucester expressed. Edmund is using the fear of cosmic signs and omens to deceive Edgar and make him believe that he is in grave danger. In his short soliloquy at the end of the scene (1.2.174-180), Edmund is pleased with his success in manipulating Edgar. He revels in the fact that his deception has worked, and he expresses his belief that human nature (another use of "nature") is inherently prone to self-interest and ambition. He sees this as a confirmation of his earlier soliloquy, reinforcing his cynical view of humanity and the manipulative power of his own actions. 1.3 1. What problems is Goneril having with Lear and his knights? What does she tell Oswald to do about it? What does her plan seem to be? At this point, how justified does she seem in what she's doing? Goneril is having problems with King Lear and his knights who have come to stay with her. She is frustrated by their behavior, which she perceives as rowdy and disorderly. Lear's knights are consuming resources, causing disturbances, and undermining her authority in her own household.

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Goneril instructs Oswald, a steward in her household, to reduce the number of knights in Lear's retinue. She tells him to deliver a letter to her sister Regan and her husband, the Duke of Cornwall, informing them of her grievances and requesting their support in addressing this issue. Her plan seems to be to use Regan and Cornwall's influence and authority to put further pressure on Lear and his knights. At this point, Goneril's frustration and desire to address the unruly behavior of Lear's entourage seem justified. It is reasonable for her to expect order and discipline in her own home, and the knights' disruptive behavior is a genuine concern. However, as the play progresses, her actions and motivations become more questionable, and her treatment of Lear escalates into cruelty and betrayal, which contributes to the tragic events of the play.

King Lear Act 1 Questions

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