Perspectives
This character views the social laws of legitimacy and inheritance as unfair obstacles to advancement.
Edmund
'King Lear' is a reinterpretation of what text?
An ancient British story/legend/myth called 'King Leir.'
Lear’s misjudgement of his daughters is echoed by Gloucester’s misjudgement of his sons is an example of what device?
Parallel Plot
Lear
"O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! / Keep me in temper: I would not be mad!"
Madness
Through the Fool's wisdom and Lear's descent into insanity, what perspective is Shakespeare creating about a 'corrupt' society.
Truth is madness in a corrupt society.
Edmund's cunning and ruthless pursuit of power represent the ideas of which famous writer/philosopher?
Niccolo Machiavelli
The repeated image of sight and blindness throughout the play is an example of what device?
Motif
"Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest."
Fool
"Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest."
Appearance vs Reality
This character initially interprets the treatment they receive as evidence that the gods are cruel and human suffering is meaningless.
Gloucester
How is 'familial love' represented through the characters Goneril and Regan in their 'love' toward Lear?
Transactional
Edgar disguising himself as Poor Tom and describing himself as a mad beggar while the audience knows his true identity is an example of what device?
Dramatic Irony
"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is To have a thankless child!"
Lear
"Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak / When power to flattery bows?"
Truth vs Flattery
By concluding the play with the re-establishment of authority under Albany and Edgar, what might be Shakespeare's perspective on monarchy and the role of legitimacy?
Traditional monarchies with socially accepted legitimacy claims are vital in maintaining peace and order.
Shakespeare wrote 'King Lear' to reinforce 'the Great Chain of Being' due to what renaissance philosophical development?
Individualism
“Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; robes and furred gowns hide all” is an example of what device?
Juxtaposition
"Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law / My services are bound."
Edmund
"Plate sin with gold, / And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks; / Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it."
Justice
By allowing the audience to understand the deceptions against both Lear and Gloucester, Shakespeare positions the audience to recognise this shared weakness.
Inability to distinguish genuine loyalty from deception.
Like classical Greek protagonists, Lear experiences a profound, painful awakening and gains wisdom through suffering and madness. What is the classical Greek term for this?
Anagnorisis
“How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child” is an example of what device?
Simile
"As flies to wanton boys are we to th' gods; They kill us for their sport."
Gloucester
"Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise."
Wisdom