king lear lecture 3
TRANSCRIPT
Term II : Lecture 3
Text - King Lear
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 2
Introduction of the Sub-plot
Gloucester’s two sons – Edmund & Edgar
Gloucester’s relationship with them
Sub-plot amplifies & reverberates themes and issues explored in the main plot
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 2
Edmund’s Speech in the beginning
The Issue of Nature
The Elements
Natural Order of Things
Nature , Natural & Unnatural
1st Explicit Invocation of the Theme of Identity
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 2
Structurally
The main plot & the sub-plot weave together
But do remain identifiably separate issues
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 2
Ideas Explored
Illegitimacy of a Natural Child
Spontaneous Feeling Vs Rule of Law (Edmund’s Opening Lines)
Conventions Vs Self-Perception
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 2
1 explicit invocation of identity in the play
This will be explored further in rest of the play
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 2
Characters
Gloucester - Gullible
Edmund – A bastard in both senses, dramatically intriguing, ingenious manipulator, clever plotter
Edgar – allows himself to be manipulated
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 3
What did we expect?
Is Goneril unreasonable if she is irritated by her father’s antics?
Are our suspicions confirmed by Goneril’s actions?
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 4
Kent Disguised
• Disguise as an important feature of Shakespearean plays
• Disguise Vs Identity
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 4
Purpose of Disguise
Dramatic irony, where the audience is aware of something (in this case the true identity of characters) that characters in the play are not. This creates tension in a play and excites the audience; actions take place on the stage, of which the audience knows the import, but characters on the stage do not.
It also creates a setting for a great deal of irony where characters make comments that take on a double meaning.
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 4
Development of Features of Act 1 Scene 3
• Lear starting to lose grip
• Goneril shows her true colours
• Lear begins to regret
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 4
Entrance of the Fool
• Traditional role of the fool
• ‘Magic’ status of the fool
• Ability to see & say what others can’t
King Lear: Act 1 Scene 4
Entrance of the Fool
• The ‘Wise’ fool
• Effect of the fool on Lear
• The Fool’s Advice
• Song 1 Line 120
• Song 2 Line 145