King Lear by William Shakespeare Read Free Book Online Page B

you = Q. F = your 281 you, murderers, traitors = F. Q = your murderous traytors 287 SH GENTLEMAN = F. Q =
Cap
. 290 him = F. Q = them 295 This … sight . = F.
Not in
Q 298 you that = F. Q = that 302 first = F. Q = life 309 says = F. Q = sees 327 sir . = F. Q = sir, O, o, o, o. 328–29 Do … there! = F.
Not in
Q 331 SH KENT = F. Q =
Lear
342 realm = F. Q = kingdome 345 SH EDGAR = F. Q =
Duke

SCENE-BY-SCENE ANALYSIS
ACT 1 SCENE 1
    Relationships between key characters are established. Several themes are introduced: power/authority, deception, nature, kinship, sanity, and sight.
    Lines 1–33: Kent and Gloucester discuss Lear. Edmund is introduced. Gloucester insists that Edmund is as dear to him as his older, legitimate, son, Edgar, and claims that “the whoreson must be acknowledged.” The bawdy language used to describe Edmund’s conception undermines the good intentions behind this.
    Lines 34–193: A trumpet flourish emphasizes the ceremonial, public nature of events from this point. Instructing Gloucester to fetch France and Burgundy, Lear reveals his “darker purpose”—to allocate a piece of kingdom to each of his three daughters, intending the “largest bounty” to whoever “doth love [him] most.” This reveals Lear’s inability to separate public and domestic and highlights his perception of emotions as subject to pecuniary measurement. Tensions exist between his love of power and his portrayal of himself as an old man who wishes to “Unburdened crawl toward death.”
    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