KING LEAR NOTES- ACT ONE · Page 1 KING LEAR NOTES- ACT ONE x These are intended as Leaving Certificate notes for the prescribed text ^King Lear. _ x Notes for the rest of

www.nouvelleprof.com

Pa

ge1

KING LEAR NOTES- ACT ONE

These are intended as Leaving Certificate notes for the prescribed text King Lear.

Notes for the rest of the Acts will be added to the blog in the next few weeks.

These notes include analysis of each Scene in Act 1, as well as all of the essential notes for

Leaving Certificate English.

Hope you find them helpful!


Pa

ge2

ACT ONE SCENE ONE

This scene is concerned with King Lear’s impending division of the kingdom between his three

daughters. We are immediately introduced to the noblemen Gloucester and Kent discussing this,

although this is soon forgotten when Gloucester introduces Kent to his son Edmund, at Kent’s

request. We learn that Edmund is being raised away from home as a result of being born into an

unmarried couple.

The focus is suddenly reverted back to Lear’s division of his kingdom as a result of his old age:

to shake all cares and business from our age, Conferring them on younger strengths, which

would enable him to unburthen’d crawl toward death.

Lear intends that his elusive kingdom be divided between his three daughters and orders them to

profess their love for him in order to judge who is worthy of each share:

Tell me, my daughters,

Since now we will divest us both of rule,

Interest of territory, cares of state,

Which of you shall say doth love us most?

That we our largest bounty may extend.

This opportunity for great wealth is first grasped by Goneril who employs exaggerated flattery in the

hope of acquiring some of the enticing wealth on offer:

Sir, I do love you more than words can wield the matter,

Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty,

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare,


Pa

ge3

No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor,

As much as child e'er loved or father found—

A love that makes breath poor and speech unable.

Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

This greatly inflated statement of love leads Lear to grant her one third of his land.

Inspired by Goneril’s achievement, the conniving Regan echoes her greatly exaggerated statement of

love:

Sir, I am made of that self mettle as my sister,

And prize me at her worth. In my true heart,

I find she names my very deed of love—

Only she comes too short, that I profess

Myself an enemy to all other joys,

Which the most precious square of sense possesses.

And find I am alone felicitate

In your dear highness' love.

Despite the apparent obviousness of the cunningness of the sisters, it is noteworthy that the King’s

favourite daughter Cordelia refuses to speak, owing to the fact that she considers words inadequate

to measure her love for her father- my love’s more ponderous than my tongue.

Lear is visibly irritated by Cordelia’s refusal to speak- nothing will come of nothing and warns that

her inheritance may be affected by her actions.


Pa

ge4

However, Cordelia continues to refuse to indulge in the public declaration of love for her father and

instead chooses to voice her scepticism about the entire process. Cordelia admits that the extent of

her love for her father equates merely to his parental role, as opposed to her sisters’ apparent

husband-like level of adoration for their father.

Good my lord,

You have begot me, bred me, loved me. I

Return those duties back as are right fit—

Obey you, love you, and most honor you.

Why have my sisters husbands if they say

They love you all? Haply when I shall wed

That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry

Half my love with him, half my care and duty.

Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,

To love my father all.

Cordelia’s admittance infuriates King Lear, leading to his decision to disown Cordelia-

Here I disclaim all my paternal care,

Propinquity and property of blood,

And as a stranger to my heart and me,

Hold thee from this for ever.


Pa

ge5

Kent, the King’s nobleman, attempts to reason with the King. However, this is not entertained by

King Lear-

Peace, Kent!

Come not between the dragon and his wrath.

I loved her most, and thought to set my rest

On her kind nursery.

[ SPEAKING TO CORDELIA.]

Hence, and avoid my sight!—

So be my grave my peace as here I give

Her father’s heart from her.—Call France. Who stirs?

Cornwall and Albany,

With my two daughters' dowers digest this third.

Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.

I do invest you jointly with my power,

Preeminence, and all the large effects

That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,

With reservation of an hundred knights

By you to be sustained, shall our abode

Make with you by due turns. Only shall we retain


Pa

ge6

The name, and all th' additions to a king.

The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,

Belovèd sons, be yours; which to confirm,

This coronet part between you.

Kent, remaining concerned by the gravity of the situation, continues to try and reason with the King

which infuriates Lear further- The bow is bent and drawn; make from the shaft.

Lear then divides his crown between Regan and Goneril’s husbands Cornwall and Abbey, as well as

dividing Cordelia’s intended part of the estate between the two sisters.

Kent is undeterred and pleads with the King to calmly reconsider his judgement:

And in thy best consideration check

This hideous rashness. Answer my life my judgment,

Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least.

Kent’s embodiment of loyalty to the King is obvious-

My life I never held but as a pawn,

To wage against thine enemies, nor fear to lose it,

Thy safety being the motive.

The King’s threats to dispel Kent are of little fear to Kent, who continues to encourage the King to

think rationally about the situation-

See better, Lear, and let me still remain

The true blank of thine eye.


Pa

ge7

However, the King remains insistent and Kent begins to despair- I’ll tell thee thou dost evil.

The King, then exasperated with Kent, banishes him-

Take thy reward:

Five days we do allot thee for provision

To shield thee from diseases of the world.

And on the sixth to turn thy hated back

Upon our kingdom. If on the next day following

Thy banished trunk be found in our dominions,

The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter,

Kent exits, wishing Cordelia good luck. In the meantime, the King of France and the Duke of

Burgundy are at Lear’s court in the hope of marrying Cordelia. Lear attempts to finalise his total

rejection of Cordelia by informing them that she is no longer his daughter, as well as having no

inheritance.

The Duke of Burgundy withdraws his offer of marriage to Cordelia upon learning about her lack of

inheritance. However, the King of France is intrigued by Cordelia’s honesty and remains interested

in her. Cordelia justifies her actions by stating that she is an honest daughter unmotivated by wealth:

I yet beseech your majesty,

If for I want that glib and oily art

To speak and purpose not—since what I well intend,

I’ll do ’t before I speak—that you make known


Pa

ge8

It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,

No unchaste action or dishonored step

That hath deprived me of your grace and favor,

But even for want of that for which I am richer:

A still-soliciting eye and such a tongue

As I am glad I have not, though not to have it

Hath lost me in your liking.

This does little to appease Lear, who expresses regret about her birth:

Go to, go to. Better thou

Hadst not been born than not t' have pleased me better.

The King of France accepts the offer of marriage to Cordelia, affirming her noble and virtuous

efforts:

Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor,

Most choice forsaken, and most loved despised!

Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon,

Be it lawful I take up what’s cast away.

Gods, gods! 'Tis strange that from their cold’st neglect

My love should kindle to inflamed respect.—

Thy dowerless daughter, King, thrown to my chance,


Pa

ge9

Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France.

Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy

Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.—

Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind.

Thou losest here, a better where to find.

King Lear duly accepts the marriage and exits. Cordelia bids goodbye to her sisters. Goneril and

Regan discuss the occurrences together and begin to plot to undermine their father’s outstanding

authority further.

ACT ONE SCENE TWO

In this scene we are introduced to Edmund, Gloucester’s son whom was briefly discussed at the

beginning of the last scene. As Edmund was born outside of marriage he is being raised away from

home.

Unfortunately, being born outside of marriage also means that Edmund is not entitled to many legal

rights. Edmund laments this in his soliloquy and protests against the injustice-

Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law

My services are bound. Wherefore should I

Stand in the plague of custom, and permit

The curiosity of nations to deprive me,

For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-shines

Lag of a brother?


Pa

ge1

0

Gloucester has another son Edgar, who, being born inside of marriage is therefore entitled to the

legal rights that his half-brother Edmund is not. This discrimination is a subject of fury for Edmund.

The conniving Edmund then explains to the audience that he intends to steal land intended for Edgar

by vying for the affections of his father and holding up a forged letter from Edgar-

Well, then,

Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:

Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund

As to the legitimate: fine word,--legitimate!

Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,

And my invention thrive, Edmund the base

Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper:

Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

Gloucester duly returns from the events at the court of Lear. Edmund, feigning reluctance, hands his

father the letter that he has forged from his brother. The contents of the letter are justifiably

shocking for Gloucester- they state that if Edmund agreed to help Edgar murder their father, Edgar

would duly award Edmund half his wealth. Gloucester is enraged by the letter.

The superstitious Gloucester is inclined to attribute the issues associated with Lear’s Kingdom with

this unfortunate situation- These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us , the

bond crack’d twixt son and father.

Gloucester leaves.

Edmund, alone, voices his disapproval about blaming the earth, as opposed to our own actions, for

our misfortunes- This is the excellent foppery of the world that when we are sick in fortune- —


Pa

ge1

1

often the surfeit of our own behaviour,—we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and

the stars; as if we were villains by necessity, fools by heavenly compulsion.

According to Edmund, our own behaviours determine our outcomes in life rather than the Earth.

Edgar then walks in, and is inclined to ask Edmund if he knows why Gloucester seems irritated with

him. Edmund appears clueless and urges Edgar to consider if he himself may have offended their

father unintentionally- Bethink yourself wherein you may have offended him, as well as urging

Edgar to hide in case that he will somehow be punished as a result of the apparent negative

superstitious events.

ACT ONE SCENE THREE

The drama reverts back to Lear’s castle. Lear is currently staying with Goneril for one month.

However, Goneril is unimpressed with his behaviour and treatment of her staff and voices her

discontent to her steward Oswald. Goneril is unwilling to entertain her father further, and notes that

he can go to her sister Regan if his seemingly irritating behaviour continues.

ACT ONE SCENE FOUR

Kent remains unsatisfied with the King’s dismissal of his concerns about the division of his wealth

and returns disguised as a commoner in order to further attempt to reason with the King. This is a

demonstration of profound loyalty to the King on Kent’s behalf. The King attempts to order Oswald

(Goneril’s suitor), but Oswald ignores him. Goneril’s Knight then informs the King that Goneril’s

entourage are mistreating the King’s staff.

Lear duly sends the Knight to find Lear’s fool, who has been in hiding since the departure of Cordelia.

The Fool duly enters and openly mocks the King for his decisions regarding the division of his land

and his disowning of Cordelia. The Fool is openly loyal to Cordelia and berates the King’s foolish


Pa

ge1

2

surrendering to the superficial words of his other daughters. However, Lear is insistent that a lack of

loving statements should equate to a lack of inheritance- "Nothing can be made out of nothing."

The Fool continues to ridicule Lear, prompting Lear to question "Dost thou call me fool, boy?"The

Fool is insistent that Lear himself became a fool since he renounced his duties- all thy other titles

thou hast given away; that thou wast born with.

The Fool remains faithful to Cordelia in the exchange, lamenting Lear’s decision to disown her-

Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown, when thou gavest thy golden one away. He is equally

sceptical about the King’s decision to withdraw all his powers to his daughters-

ever since thou madest thy daughters thy mothers. For when thou gavest them the rod, and

put’st down thine own breeches.

The Fool expresses concern about the implications of telling the truth- according to him, he is

punished by Lear for telling the lie, punished for being silent or otherwise punished by the

household for divulging the truth-

I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are. They’ll have me whipped for speaking true, thou'lt

have me whipped for lying, and sometimes I am whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any

kind o' thing than a fool. And yet I would not be thee, nuncle. Thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides

and left nothing i' th' middle. Here comes one o' the parings.

Goneril enters. The Fool again assumes his apparent similar status to the King- I am better than

thou art now; I am a Fool, thou art nothing. Goneril criticises Lear and his staff. Lear, still shocked

by the behaviour of the Fool towards him, finds her attitude incomprehensible. In his state of shock

he questions himself-

Does any here know me? Why, this is not Lear.

Doth Lear walk thus? Speak thus? Where are his eyes?


Pa

ge1

3

Either his notion weakens, or his discernings

Are lethargied. Ha, sleeping or waking?

Sure, ’tis not so.

Who is it that can tell me who I am?

Goneril seizes the opportunity to further chastise his staff, threatening to remove some of them-

As you are old and reverend, should be wise.

Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires,

Men so disordered, so debauched and bold

That this our court, infected with their manners,

Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust

Make it more like a tavern or a brothel

Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak

For instant remedy. Be then desired

By her that else will take the thing she begs,

A little to disquantity your train,

And the remainder that shall still depend

To be such men as may besort your age,

Which know themselves and you.


Pa

ge1

4

Albany enters the scene. Lear again struggles to understand his daughter’s insolence towards him.

He lambastes her attitude- Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend,

More hideous when thou show’st thee in a child

Than the sea monster.

The realisation of the stupidity of Lear’s actions in giving his conniving daughters his power is

overwhelming for Lear. He berates his own lack of judgement and yearns for Cordelia.

Detested kite, thou liest!

My train are men of choice and rarest parts

That all particulars of duty know

And in the most exact regard support

The worships of their name. O most small fault,

How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show,

Which like an engine wrenched my frame of nature

From the fixed place, drew from heart all love,

And added to the gall! O Lear, Lear, Lear!

(strikes his head)

Beat at this gate that let thy folly in

And thy dear judgment out!—Go, go, my people.

Lear remains inconsolable about the situation. He begs for Goneril to be rendered infertile, or for at

least to give birth to a child equally displeasing as herself-


Pa

ge1

5

It may be so, my lord.

Hear, Nature, hear, dear goddess, hear!

Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend

To make this creature fruitful.

Into her womb convey sterility.

Dry up in her the organs of increase,

And from her derogate body never spring

A babe to honor her. If she must teem,

Create her child of spleen, that it may live

And be a thwart disnatured torment to her.

Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,

With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks,

Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits

To laughter and contempt, that she may feel—

That she may feel

How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is

To have a thankless child.—Away, away!

Lear is exasperated upon learning about the dismissal of his staff by Goneril- What, fifty of my

followers at a clap?


Pa

ge1

6

Within a fortnight?

At this stage, Lear is despairing. He continues to curse his daughter- Life and death! I am ashamed

That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus,

That these hot tears which break from me perforce

Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon thee!

As well as this, Lear believes that Cordelia will justifiably punish Goneril for her actions-

Ha? Let it be so. I have another daughter,

Who I am sure is kind and comfortable.

When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails

She’ll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find

That I’ll resume the shape which thou dost think

I have cast off for ever. Thou shalt, I warrant thee.

Lear exits. Albany, upon learning about the situation, openly disagrees with Goneril’s actions. Goneril

expresses no remorse. Instead, she writes a letter to Regan warning her that their father is

potentially dangerous- Safer than trust too far ; I have writ my sister.

If she sustain him and his hundred knights

When I have showed th' unfitness-

Oswald is duly sent to give the letter to Regan regarding their father- Inform her full of my

particular fear,

And thereto add such reasons of your own.


Pa

ge1

7

Act One Scene Five:

The King justifiably suspects that Goneril will inform Regan with a rather one-sided version of events.

Bearing this in mind, he composes a letter to Regan outlining his own version of events and sends

Kent to deliver them- Go you before to Gloucester.

The Fool warns Lear that Regan will likely treat him in the same way as Goneril, comparing her to

sour apples- Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly. For though she’s as like this as a

crab’s like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell ; She will taste as like this as a crab does to a

crab.

Lear again expresses regret with his treatment of Cordelia- I did her wrong.

The Fool once again berates Lear for the stupidity of his actions- If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I’d

have thee beaten for being old before thy time.

Lear then openly expresses fear about going mad, begging to remain somewhat sane - O, let me

not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven!

I would not be mad.

Keep me in temper. I would not be mad.

Documents

KING LEAR NOTES- ACT ONE · Page 1 KING LEAR NOTES- ACT ONE x These are intended as Leaving Certificate notes for the prescribed text ^King Lear. _ x Notes for the rest of