KING LEAR lksdjlsdkfj d:
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KING LEAR
Filial Ingratitude, Family Relationships, Age
THE IDEA OF ‘GROWING OLD’
Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst
been wise - Fool (Act1, Scene 5, line 40)
With age comes wisdom
Parents are looked after by their children
Children rule and lead their parents (Goneril
and Regan)
Less responsibilities as you get older
LEAR’S EXPERIENCE AND HIS AGE
Has been a successful and powerful king
Because of Lear’s age and experience he should be
wise, but his flaw ‘blinds’ him
“If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I’ll have thee beaten for
being old before thy time” – Fool (Act 1, Scene 5, Line
40-41)
His daughters believe that Lear is too old
“O, sir, you are old; Nature in you stands on the very
verge of his confine. You should be ruled, and led by
some discretion that discerns your state. Better than
you yourself.” – Regan (Act 2, Scene 4, Line 143-146)
RELATIONSHIPS
Lear
His
three daughters:
Goneril, eldest
Regan, middle
Cordelia, youngest
Gloucester
Edmund, eldest, illegitimate son
Edgar, youngest
DISCUSS HOW FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS ARE
PORTRAYED IN THE PLAY
Loyalty in Family Relationships
Cordelia, youngest daughter of Lear
“Not blown ambition doth our arms incite, but love, dear
love and our father’s right” – Act 4, Scene 4
Edgar ,son of Gloucester
Both youngest, “natural” and moral characters,
particularly Edgar who is the legitimate son of Gloucester
Follow the natural order and don’t disrupt the chain of
being
DISCUSS HOW FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS ARE
PORTRAYED IN THE PLAY
Betrayal in Family Relationships
Goneril and Regan, the elder daughters of Lear
“Tigers not daughters... A father and a gracious aged man... Have you madded”
– Act 4. Scene 2
Love for Lear is treated as material possessions
Shower him with praise for personal gain
Edmund, eldest son of Gloucester
Tricks Gloucester into believing Edgar is the disloyal son
Betrays both his father and brother
“The younger rises when the old doth fall” – Act 3, Scene 3
Both go against nature and natural order
Betray their fathers
Don’t really care for family, only want their power, land, and money “Fathers that
wear rags do make their children blind. But fathers that bear bags shall see
their children kind”. Fool, Act 2; Scene 4
EXPECTATIONS
Setting: Eighth Century B.C.
Children’s Expectations
Respect
Loyalty
Family
love
Parent’s Expectations
Respect
Family
love
EXPECTATIONS AND THE CHARACTERS
Children
Cordelia and Edgar
The honourable children
Understands and follows
expectations
Love and care for their parents
as they should
Regan and Goneril
The dishonourable children
Manipulates Lear and then
betray him
Don’t look after him
Edmund
Manipulates Gloucester
Disloyal to his brother, Edgar
Parents
Lear
Disrespectful of Goneril’s
house
Unrealistic ideals of his
daughters
Gloucester
Doesn’t trust Edgar for who
he is
Takes the word of Edmund
“Loyal and natural boy, I’ll
work the means to make
thee capable” - Act 2, Scene
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