33Act 4 Scene 1

● The lowest and most dejected thing of Fortune, Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear.
(4.1.3-4)
○ Shakespeare makes sure that we are a little hopeful after the violent things the audience
witnessed
● Just when Edgar is filled with hope, he sees his father and he realize that he now has a different
problem: the fate of his father
● But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee, Life would not yield to age (4.1.11-12)
○ Edgar’s hope is now questioned. He now has to see his father like this.
● A man wants to help Gloucester , but Gloucester doesn't have hope and says he doesn’t need to
see as he has nowhere to go. He recognizes that he has been blinded, even when he physically
saw.
● Edgar is slowly approaching his father wandering awround with nothing with wounds on his fae
having lost his sight
● Full oft ’tis seen Our means secure us, and our mere defects Prove our commodities. O dear
son Edgar, The food of thy abusèd father’s wrath, Might I but live to see thee in my touch,
I’d say I had eyes again
○ Reversal and revelations
○ His roles were reversed from top to the bottom, as he now sees things for what it is. He
makes a declaration that he doesn't care to see anything, and that the only thing he wants
is to touch his good son Edgar. He realizes that this is what he truly needs in his life; a
reconciliation with Edgar.
○ [Theme:Vision] It has taken a vicious assault to make him see the truth. He fears that his
realization has come too late. All he wants is to touch his wronged son’s face.

Edgar, though his false persona of Poor tom, sees the gradual change in characters of Gloucester,
and Kent, through is false persona, sees the gradual change in character of lear
But Cordelia is in France so she doesn't get to see the change in Lear.

● True Sight vs. Moral Blindness

○ Moral Blindness; the idea wrath you cannot see what is right an wrong. The idea that our
very resources make us careless. The omre we have, the harde it is to see what is what.
○ True sight: benign able to see what is what
● Deemd a traitor and blinded by Cornwall, glocuester now realizes th his beloved son Edgar,
whom he has earlier banished, did not deserve his anger. Again, Shaepsrea uses that theme of true
sight versus moral cli
● LGocuester understands th difference now :I stumbled when I saw’. Now blinded he see more
clearly. Gloucester speculates that uur very resources mae us careless. :Our means secure us. At
teh sa,me tie, our defects can become our commodities or advantage. GLcouester perceives as late
does Lear, that adversity is parodoxiaaly of some benefit. ™ snce prosperity has previously
caused him to be spiritually blind.
 ○ The were blinded by all that thye had .
● Finally glouc revels his love for edgr ahs begs forgiveness if only he could ‘ see’ hi son een by
touching him he would trule once again have vision “Id say I has eyes again” edgar, signifuall,y
hears this entire passafem stand nearby dissed as Tom O Bedmadlam. He steps in and aggres
so guice his father t Dover.

● O gods, who is ’t can say “I am at the worst”? I am worse than e’er I was. ’ (4.1.27-28)
○ Edgar laments thta he thought he asas at rock bottom, but he was mistaken. Not only is
Edgar going to learn, but now, not only he is going to raise himself up, but also honeour
and raise back up teh relationship with his father.
○ The second cross he is going to carry is about reaffirming his family; not just himself.
● Edgar indivisudlaly reises up tot eh occasion fo dealing with heis new situaiton, but now, nehas a
seon cross; j-s father waht’s happened to him. His new revelation is nothtat he is gong to be used
by shakes, by th gods, to redeem him fahter
○ Glocuester’s redemption will come from his son.
○ Gloucester will be redeemed through reunited with his son whom he had wronged.
● Edgar is going to stay in character as poor tom, and he is going to be a guide for his hopeless
father.
● They have both changed completely. Gloucester has permanently changed, whereas his son has
just taken up his false persona. Gloucester can never go back to who he was at the beginning of
the play (he has lost everything and been betrayed by his illegitimate son), but Edgar can , as has
the possibility of retaking his dignity.
● Edgar is worried that he is not going to keep up the facade.
● He tells his father that he’s been possessed by five different demons to keep up the facade of the
crazy man.
● Earlier in act three, the. Servants want to let Poor Tom lead the now bling Gloucester, but here
we see Glucester choose Edgar himself. A sign of hope for his forgiveness and redemption.
● Gloucester is given the ability to choose Edgar, which he fails at in the beginning of the play.
HOw do she maething straight? H beginning by choosing Edgar, which was something that he
failed to in the beginng. Just like he gave edmund his estate, he tells
● Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens’ plagues Have humbled to all strokes
● The frist thing he does to Poor tom, he gives his sn money. WTihs is syoblic of hat h should hae
done (He should have given his title and inheritance to Edgar, and not Edmund). HWn ehe gives
his money to Edgar, he makes this mistake right.
●
● Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man, That slaves your ordinance, that will not see
Because he does not feel, feel your power quickly.So distribution should undo excess And
each man have enough.
○ In his revelation , in being with Poor Tom, he realizes that the poor have needs, and he
wants to share the wealth, which is not something he thought of before.
○ In this quote wee see that Gloucester (like Leaar is on the path to morality (being aware
of the needs of others)
 ● There is a cliff, whose high and bending head Looks fearfully in the confinèd deep. Bring me but
to the very brim of it, And I’ll repair the misery thou dost bear With something rich about me.
From that place I shall no leading need.
○ Gloucester has learned to share and give of himself, and now plans to take his own life.
The irony this that it i his own son that is leading him to his end/redemption
● Also like Lear, Gloucester wants his son to take him to a cliff . Gloucester, like Lea,r is calling for
the end of things and Glcouester, in a more refined way, wants his end.
○
● Gloucester is in good hands. H eis in teh hands of his son who is going to hep keep him alive.
○ Gloucester wanted his son ded, and now his son is oging to keep him alive.
○ It’s a reversal.

Act 2 Scene 2

Madam, within, but never man so changed. I told him of the army that was landed; He smiled at it.
I told him you were coming; His answer was “The worse.” Of Gloucester’s treachery And of the
loyal service of his son When I informed him, then he called me “sot”
● Albany can now see through Goneril, Regan, and Corwall’s schemes. His perspective has
changed.
● She calls her husband a coward that can’t commit to doing anything risky. WHen she gets the
sense that husband is not being controlled, she emasculated him
● Our wishes on the way May prove effects.
○ She sees an opportunity to marry Edmund.
○ It’s implied that there's a romantic relations between Goneril and Edmund
● If you dare venture in your own behalf— A mistress’s command.
○ Hse tells him that if he asks boldly, they can end up being married
○ She tells Edmund that she’ll deal with her husband, agains emasculating Albany in front
of her lover.
● She gives him a present, which solidifies any doubt the audience had
● My most dear Gloucester! O, the difference of man and man! To thee a woman’s services
are due; My fool usurps my bod
○ His husband is in her body and taking something that he shouldn’t
○ In her bed, there is someone that shouldn't be there - this is emasculating to her husband
● She that herself will sliver and disbranch From her material sap perforce must wither And
come to deadly use.
○ He sees ehr for what she is; she is like a dead branch broken up a tree
● He warns her that her fate will come and that the rate will come. He tells her that she will receive
her heaven’s dispensation.
● Milk-livered man, That bear’st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;
○ Milk was a symbol of maternal nurturing. She's emasculating him, and now she twists
him. She implies that France is invading Britain for the land. SHe is misleading him, as
the reader knows that it’s not the case. ALbany is going to agree to fight due to his wife’s
manipulation.
● Regan and Gonereil use their femininity as a barrier from just punishment.
 ● Cornwall is dead, and Regan is now going to try to go for edmund as well
● This shows you are above, You justicers, that these our nether crimes So speedily can venge.
(4.1.95-96)
○ ???
● She’s happy that Cornwall is dead because… but she is worried because
● Edmund’s betrayal; of his father is revealed to Albany.
● Ay, my good lord. ’Twas he informed against him And quit the house on purpose, that their
punishment Might have the freer course
○ Albany can now only see through Gonereil and Regan, but he can now als see through
Edmund as well.
● Albany ends up taking a vow to avenge Gloucester’s eyes.
● He is going to fight against France because he thinks that they are attacking Britain territory.

Course Hero Video Recap

3.7
-
4.1
- Situational irony occurs when the audiences know someone that the characters do not
4.2
- Cornwall is dead
- Gonereil and Albany are married but at odds
- Goneriel is cheating on Albany with Edmund
- This affair and love triangle reflects their characters poorly. They are not characters that take on
the responsibility of leading and protecting, but rather characters that are distracted by their own
personal benefits and needs. They are weighted down by their self-interest and do not reflect what
a leader should be.

Act 4 Scene 3
● We learn that the King of France is not coming.
● In Shakespeare’s day France and England were rivals, it would not have worked to have the King
of France depicted as a hero who saves the entire play, therefore he is mysteriously called away.
● This scene is to help us understand Cordelia’s character. Shakepere wants to make sure that we
know she is the best.
● It seemed she was a queen Over her passion, who, most rebel-like, Fought to be king o’er
her
○ She did not let her emotions and her feelings control and overwhelm her. This is one of
the marks of a good monarch. A good monarch doesn't run the country by their own
feelings and her rash emotions. Shakespeare tells us that Cordelia is a step above Lear, as
this is the type of king that Lear was.
● She still cares, adn she still has emotions and is humans.
 ● Shakespeare uses this scen to contrast Cordelia with her father, as well as codelia with her sister,
as Cordelia is a humane being, unlocking Gonereil and Regan.
● The Gentleman muses at how Cordelia is the perfect Queen and daughter, being able to find a
balance between the two
● It is the stars. The stars above us govern our conditions, Else one self mate and make could
not beget Such different issues (4.3.38-41)
○ Kent is not surprised that Cordelia is a better daughter than Gonereila and Regan. He is
not surprised that she is a better monarch than Lear.
○ How else would kent have such different children (issues)? It is the stars.
○ This is an allusion to the old way of life that respects the universe and fate, the way of life
that Gonereil and Edmund want to destroy .
● Lear, when he has mental clarity, refuses to see Cordelia because of Lear’s guilt and shame. Like
Gloucester, Lear is brought down with shame and refuses to see Cordelia.
● Like Gloucester, Lear is bogged down with Shame and refuses to see Cordelia
○ Gloucester’s desire to kill himself is parallel to Lear’s refusal to see Cordelia
Fate
↓
Karma
↓
Heavenly Dispensation

Act 4 Scene 4
● Alack, ’tis he! Why, he was met even now As mad as the vexed sea, singing aloud, Crowned
with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds, With hardocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckooflowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow In our sustaining corn. A century send forth
(4.4.1-6)
○ Lear’s madness is now outweighing his sanity. He has presented himself so insane that he
has escaped and left. Wesee that Lear, besieged being more mad, is also now dressed like
poor Tom, like that stripped human being he admired in Poor Tom.
○ Cordelia says that she wants to send 100 knights to look for him. This alludes to the 100
knights, the idea that he lost those knights that represent his power, and Cordelia, the
good daughter that likes him, wants to give him back his power and what he has lost.
● All blest secrets, All you unpublished virtues of the earth, Spring with my tears (4.4.17-19)
○ Cordelia says that she wants to water all of these different herbs that can help her father
with her tears.
○ Shakespeare builds Corelia to be divine. Not only is she a better monarch and sister, but
she is slowly being built up to be almost divine, as she wants her tears to water these
herbs and flowers that will be of use to her father
○ She is not here for personal gain. She is truly here for the love of her father, for the love
of someone in need. Cordelia knows that others mater, she is this otherworldly force that
cares about others
○ She knows this lesson that Lear and Glocuester had to go through a reversal to learn.
 ● O dear father, It is thy business that I go about. Therefore great France My mourning and
importuned tears hath pitied. No blown ambition doth our arms incite, But love, dear love,
and our aged father’s right. Soon may I hear and see him
○ Cordelia is going to be established as a christ-like figure. She is worried about others, not
about herself, she groves her father, and gives her life to better him. This man that wrongs
her, she forgives her enemy and offers up her life.
○ She offers up her life by going into war for him. If her sisters get a hold of her, they will
kill her. She walks into a situation where she is very possibly given up her life, like Christ
when he goes into Jerusalem where He knows he will be killed.
○ Her virtue is on full display as she clearly states that she's not here for political gain, but
only for the love of her father, as she invokes Jesus himself .
○ Cordelia is christlike
a) in the way that she was forgiving
b) n her way of offering up her life (she goes back to where she was banished from)
c) Completely selfless (she doesn't gain anything, her virtue is about others)

Act 4 Scene 5
● Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. It was great ignorance, Gloucester’s eyes being
out, To let him live. Where he arrives he moves All hearts against us (4.5.11-13)
○ Regan is saying they shouldn’t have let Gloucester live after plucking his eyes out.
○ The shroud is slowly being removed from these villainous charter. People are finally
seeing the sisters for who they really are, especially because of their cruelty to
Gloucester.
○ Shakespeare amps up for this military battle between evil and good. It’s more of an even
fight, unlike in the beginning when it seemed like the good forces were overpowered.
● Edmund has implied to Regan that he will go kill his father himself. He might also try to kill
Albany to pursue his relationship with Gonereil
● Oswlad reveals that he has a letter from Goneril that he needs to get to Edmund. When Regan
hears about the letter, the first thing she says to Oswald is to stay the night, and she is suddenly
very hospitable towards Oswald. She doesn’t want Oswald to give this letter to Gonereil.
● My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talked, And more convenient is he for my hand Than
for your lady’s. You may gather more. If you do find him, pray you, give him this, And
when your mistress hears thus much from you, I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her.
(2.4.34-39)
○ Regan says that Goneriel is not a good fit for edmund because she's a married woman,
but Regan is since she is widowed.
● Oswald has two incriminating love letters(between a married woman and another man, and
between a woman just recently widowed), and the goal of killing Gloucester because he will be
rewarded.
● Edgar is tricking his father into thinking he’s going up to the top of the cliff, when he really isn’t
● Edgar being so comfortable around his father had a slip up and didn’t keep up his Poor Tom guise
and accent
 ○ Edgar has to be more careful to stay in character around his father
● When Gloucester point out the accent change Poor Tom says that the only thing that’s changed
about hi was his clothes
○ Poor Tom is fully clothed because Gloucester asked the old man to fetch clothes for Poor
Tom
● Why I do trifle thus with his despair Is done to cure it (4.6.42-43)
○ Edgar thinks that once Gloucester tries to kill himself and finds that he’s still alive will
regret the decision and therefore want life, and this is what Edgar wants. He wants his
father to have the desire to live.
○ Gloucester is desperate. Edgar thinks that if Gloucester tastes death he will chose life
● Edgar takes on a new persona
● If Edgar live, O, bless him! (4.6.50)
○ Gloucester says this before jumping, showing that he is truly sorry
● Edgar lies and says that Poor Tom was really the devil who wanted to take his own life, but the
gods miraculously saved him. Glocuester believes it and embraces life.
● O, thou side-piercing sight!
○ Christian anachronism
○ To ensure that Christ is dead, they pierced his eyes.
● Though now insane, Lear refers to press money (fund for soldiers) as if he knows a battle is
coming.

● Through his insanity he says things that are more sense than when he was a the ebginning of the
play:
● They flattered me like a dog and told me I had the white hairs in my beard ere the black
ones were there. To say “ay” and “no” to everything that I said “ay” and “no” to was no
good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once and the wind to make me chatter, when
the thunder would not peace at my bidding, there I found ’em, there I smelt ’em out.
○ This is the revelation (reversal and revelation)
○ Lear (in addition to startin to care for other people than himself) now gets what happened
to him. He understands his own life.

● Lear recognizes Gloucester.

● What was thy cause? Adultery? Thou shalt not die. Die for adultery? No
○ Technically it was adultery
○ Heavenly dispensation (fate) intervened, and where Glouester would have killed himself,
he was saved by his son
○ e now has this crazy revelation he can see for himself and also for gloucester
● Still on the cliffs, Gloucester and Edgar meet the mad Lear, who erupts with two of his major
outbursts during teh play. Evington comments: “When at last the two old men come together..
The sad comfort they derive from sharing the wreckage of their live calls forth piercing
 ○ Seven though thye have gone through all of these chtings,, thy have this clarity, this
piercing understnagin. They are reunited with a renewed sense of wiesonm that they did
not have in teh bengiing of the play.
● First, Lear recalls how, as a king, “The
● Lear can see that he was tricked into thinkingwwas above all else
● Lear recognised that
○ He created this false environment where no one was telling the truth and was living the
lie
○ He preferred to be flattered
● WHen GLocuester, blind, recognizes Lear, it is symbolic for someone seeing Lear for who he is.
●
● IN the second outburst, Lear condemns female sensuality, complaining that Edmund, born
illegitimate, was better to his father than Lear’ two daughters, conceived between “lawful sheets”,
were to him. He associated women with centaurs, mythical beasts had the torso of a human but
the body of a horse. “Hell” in Shaespeare’s day, was slang for the vagina (Bloom Shakespeare
514). Some critics interpret the speech as antifeminist and antisex; Gonreil adn rean havuusurped
authorityl their nature is akni to edmund’s idea of nature, rather than :eal’s an dso the mad king’s
revilsion is from nature iself, not an idea but the fundamenta fact of sexual diference
● eminst or even antisex; Goddard argues that Shaepeare is aking alink ebtween lust adn violence.
“The horror of this outpouring, augmented as it is by the age of teh mman, is a mease not more of
the part sex, espresed or supresed, ahs plaued in his life than of the part that war and poewr have.
Blom argues that the speech shows tho Lear’s authority had eroded in th area where eh though it
most absolotL his relaionshop with hi f

● Gloucester recognizes Lear’s voice

○ This is important because at the beginning of th play, Lear is not able to be recognized
○ Now that he has clarity, he is being recognized for who he is
● O ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes
are in a heavy case, your purse in a light, yet you see how this world goes.
○ Lear and LGoucester have both experienced reversal and revelation and they have both
received clarity in their lives.
○ Lear explicitly states that he has a revelation that he didn’t have before he had this
reversal, as he now lost everything, but now has clarity.
● They now see the hero as the villain adn th evilain as the hero; their ideas
● Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand! Why dost thou lash that whore?
○ Anachronism: Lear points to the idea that he is starting to understand that he himself is
flawed; not just the people who he lashed out at. He has this realization that he punished
other people (cordelia and Kent), but that he was in the wrong.
● The usurer hangs the cozener. Through tattered clothes small vices do appear. Robes and
furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold, And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks.
Arm it in rags, a pygmy’s straw does pierce it
○ Someone who is poor that has tattered clothes, so if they are hurt or poked, they would
feel it. If you are rich and hear gold plated armor, it’s going to shield you from teh
consequences. He understands that as a rich person, his money shielded him from reality
 ○ The rich have this shield that protect them, while the poor do not
○ The revelation that Lear understands is that the world is corrupt.
○ Lear’s wisdom continues in the way he recognize how the rich buy their wat out of
trouble, but the this is not the case for
● He goes from this immense moment of clarity to his insanity.
● Edgar: O, matter and impertinency mixed, Reason in madness! (4.6. 192.)
○ This is a description of Lear
○ Lear is the mixture of knowing everything and knowing
○ Lear’s true sight comes out of the lost of his mental capacity, glocuester’s true sight
comes out of the lost of his physical ability to see.
● Lear is feeling like a full circle in his life. Anachronism: Jesus says that only tose who are truly
wise are able to be like children. Lear regains innocence as he says that he is crying just sas how
he cried coming out of the womb.
● Some of the soldiers that Cordelia has sent have now found him nda have come to take care of
him
● I will die bravely like a smug bridegroom. What? I will be jovial. Come, come, I am a king,
Masters, know you that?
○ He has this understanding of who he is, and says that he has a happiness that he needs to
claim and he recognizes himself as King, something that his daughters tried to take away
from him.
● You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me; Let not my worser spirit tempt me again To
die before you please.
○ Gloucester has learned his lesson, a he is no longer suicidal Learn reclaims himself as a
king, and Gloucester deos not want to kill himself anymore.
○ They both have a new result moving out of this scene
● Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows, Am pregnant to good pity
○ I am someone that has been through so much that I am now able to have empathy for
others.
○ This reflects the characters of Lear and Gloucester
● Oswald has a letter from REgan to Edmund, but als from Gonereil to eEdmund.
● A proclaimed prize! Most happy! That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh To raise
my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor, Briefly thyself remember; the sword is out That
must destroy thee (4.6.253-257)
○ He sees Glcouester as a prize, as profit. Oswald, unlike Lear, Gloucester, as new edgar,
doesn’t see people as people but sees them as objects to make money off of.
○ He prepares himself to fight Gloucester.
● Gloucester is open to dying because he thinks that this is what the universe wants
● Oswald dies
● If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body, And give the letters which thou find’st about me To
Edmund, Earl of Gloucester. Seek him out Upon the English party (4.6.276-276)
○ In Act 2 Scene 2, Oswald was exulted, he was raised over Kent, adn made to feel special.
NOw, teh wheel of fortune is turning, as now Oswald has been killed by Edgar, who is a
good figure like Kent. kent stands up for lear, Edgar stands of for gloucester. Oswald’s
 death directly reflect act 2.2 where Kent is put in the stocks and Oswald is not punished,
and he is now punished
○ Edgar is going to read these letters and have proof that Goneril was wanting to cheat on
her husband and that Regan did not care about her husband death/
● I know thee well, a serviceable villain, As duteous to the vices of thy mistress As badness
would desire.
○ Edgar now recognizes Oswald fro who is he is (the bad servant)
○ Oswald is now seen for who he is, as true villain
● He’s dead; I am only sorry He had no other deathsman.
○ Edgar says that he did not want to kill Oswald
○ This is Shalkespeaer’s way of showing that he is still a good character
● Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many opportunities to cut him of . If
your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully of offered. There is nothing done if he
return the conqueror. Then am I the prisoner, and his bed my jail, from the loathed warmth
whereof deliver me and supply the place for your labor. Goneril. Your (wife, so I would say)
afectionate servant, and, for you, her own for venture, (4.6.291-299)
○ This is proof that Gonereil is trying to get her husband killed.
○ Goneril is telling Edmund to use the chaos and confusion of war to take Albany out
○ She is asking Edgar to save him from the prison that is her and her husband's bed, as she
feels like a prisoner with Albany.
● The King is mad. How stiff is my vile sense That I stand up and have ingenious feeling Of
my huge sorrows! Better I were distract. So should my thoughts be severed from my griefs,
And woes, by wrong imaginations, lose The knowledge of themselves. (4.6.308-313)
○ I hate the fact that i am sane enough to be aware of his feelings
○ Gloucester is almost jealous of Lear's insanity, because it also
○ Gloucester expresses that he is jealous of Lear’s mental instability as it allows him time
and space away from all the ..
● This is the only letter that Edgar takes, as it is the only important one. This damning evidence for
Gonereil and Edmund’s characters.
● Notice that Edgar does not read the letter from Regan‘s to Goneral thatt asks General to back off
of Edmund.
● This is a reference to the letter that Edmund wrote, damning his brother, which ruined Edgar’s
life, and now the letter that Edgar has will ruin Edmund’s life. ]
● Oswald tried to kill Gloucester becuase Regannstructed him to do so, and becuase he would be re
warded. Even after he dies, he is still thinking about being rewarded.
● It is proof of treason, that Gonereil is trying to kil her hsband, adn reflects poorly of Edmund’s
character.
● Wheel fo fortune turning: the letter, kent (the good servant) was punished, and now, Oswald (teh
bad servant) is punished by being killed .
● Edgar’s new persona is referrred to as “eye witness”

Act 4 Scene 7
● Kent and cordelia are reuninted in this, scene, which shows that things are coming back together.
● Pardon, dear madam. Yet to be known shortens my made intent. My boon I make it that
you know me not Till time and I think meet.
○ She wants him to emerge form this cocoon (his persona), but he says tath he can’t yet.
○ LIek cordelia ,Kent is seen as a right hand man, a mesanic fgure. Kent liek Cordelia, is
not in a rush to wear better clthers. He deosn’t care what he’s wearing. Eh deosn’t want to
jeopardized Lea’r ssafety. That is teh most important thing to Kent. He deons’t allow
anythgin to get in hs way of pretecting Lear and being by Lea’rs sidet teh very end. He is
woorired that all if al of a sudden he changed back to ther al him, it uwld jeopardize lear’s
safety. Any noble who’s been pretendin to be a commoner would want to change as fast
as posisble, but kent pases on this.
● O, you kind gods, Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature! Th’ untuned and jarring
senses, O, wind up, Of this child-changèd father!
○ Cordeli sasy this crucial , but obscure prayer over her father
○ Cordelia speaks this crucial but somehow obsure prayer over her sleepign fahter. While
she prays fro Lear’s health, sh ealso prays that his mind be healed. The last time sh esaw
lear was on teh ay that he called her his “sometime daughter” and banished her from the
kingdom with insults and curses. Cordelia acknoledges that within lear’s nature is a
breach or chas m that inhibits his abliity to see clearly and make good decisions.
○ She points to the idea that Lear is on a trasnformative journey, and entering back into this
innnocence.
● The prayer reveals that Cordelia sees her father clearly, as sh epoints out the abuse he has
suffered, jarring his senses and changing hi mind. He is a “child-changed” father in two way.
First, he is changed by gonereil adn Regan and the abuse they dealt him. This abuse ha humbled
lear and changed him. Lear is also changed by his interaction with COrdelia. Cordelia’s prayer
foreshadows the powerful interaction she has with him the next few scenes \. But it was
Cordelia’s plain dealing at the beginning of th
● How is lear a child’changed father?: refers to the christian image of becoming loving and
dependant, thatChristin nachronozsm wehre Jessu tt eneter the kingodom of ehaven, one must
become like a child, goneriel ad regn punshed him like a child, and now cordelia nutures him like
a mother.
● O, my dear father, restoration hang Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss Repair those
violent harms that my two sisters Have in thy reverence made
○ Cordleia is saving teh kindgom through saving his fahter, just liek Christ that saved all of
humanity.
● Lear should be dead, adn Cordelia is surprised that he’s still alive. At the end of his life, this extra
time with Cordelia is him living on borrowed time.
● When Lear wakes up, he believes that part of him is in hell adn part of him is in heaven because
he sees an angel (Cordelia)
○ He fells like he’s died byt also ressucuated him.he believes that he migth be in hell, but
also nkwons he must not becuase Cordeil ai shtere wiht him, and he sees her as an angel.
● Kneeling is an act of repect and worship, adn earlier in thepay, hlear kneel before Refgan to beg ,
which was unnaturaln. When he sees her, he’s so wrapped iwth the idea that she’s andgle that h
tries to kne before her, adn she says:
●
 ○ She is not there to be served, but to serve, liek Christ. Chirst in the last supper, when they
tried to praise him, he washes their feet. She want sto kneel ebfore Lear; she doens’t want
Lear to kneel in front of her. This si a throwback to ealrier in th pay where Lear begs
before regn not to send him back to Gomeil, adn sh edoesn’t care, while Cordeli adeons’t
even want him to be kneeling.
● Lear and Cordeila are reunited at the Frecnh camp; Cordleia reveals the strength of her character,
adn blessed by her forgiveness .ear emerges out hof his mad fog. More the an ilustratin
disapporval of how her sisters treated their fahter, this passafe reveasl Cordelia’s great love for
lear, even after she has suffered sahme and injustive at his hands. Even is lear had not been the
father of gonreil adn rean, he deserved to be pities is only by virtue of his age (the white hair, or
flakes”) and station. He sid not derserve to be cast aside with swine and vagabons. The passfe aks
illusrates tth Cordelia undersanfs her fahter;s painful odyssey, ad when sh eosbserves that it is a
“wonder” that he has survived at al. She further shows her eep respect for her fahter when she
refuses to allow him to jneeel before her.
● When lear wakes, eh first believs that eh is in hell, indicated in his reference to the “wheel of fire”
a torture device foe those condemned to deaht. When he calls he a spiriti. Cordelia believes tht
her father is still “wide”, or insane. Paradoxically, however, lear’s minf is actually sounder than it
ever was–certanily sounder sounder thn in th pay’s bengning, when he diinherits Cordelia an
rexiled Kent. Lear’s admission of ignorance (a “foolish”
● Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not. If you have poison for me, I will drink it. I
know you do not love me, for your sisters Have, as I do remember, done me wrong. You
have some cause; they have not.
○ Lear now recognizes her for who she is, and understands that he done her wrong
○ He says that he’s drink poison if she wants it, adn that although he was wrong by
Gonereil adn regan, Cordelia has cause to hate him as she did not wrong him.
● Lear is able toclearly think again and recocnizes Cordelia, admitting that she should want him
dead, admittimg that she has “Cause”. To which she responds “No Cause, no cause (4.7.84)
○ Corelia has cause to be upset but she lets go of it; this goes back ot her as a messanic
figure.
● Lear now knows that he’s old and fooling. His self indentity goes from being blurred and absent,
and now he recocnizes himself for who he is.
● Cordnwall has made his way on top and taken over the position of Cornwall, though not married
to Regan. He’s been given this honour.
● My point and period will be throughly wrought, Or well, or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought.
○ My life and my plans completely depend on how today’s battle end.
○ Shakespeare is warning us that we’re coming to the final battle, the final judgement of
these character (who deserves to live and who deserves to die and lose)
○ He is, Like Corelia, going into the war not for himself, he is offering his life for the
protectiion of Lear.
● In the end, we learn that edmund is in control of Conreal’s Army, adn Kent accepts his fate as he
goes into battle (Sacrifice)

Act 5 Scene 1
 ● Theer is a conversion between cornwall and regan
● But have you never found my brother’s way To the forfended place?
○ She is a littel desperate as she is asking edmund if he’s sleeping with Gonereil
○ She is on a mission to get wih Edmund, and sh ewants to know shere she stands
○ At the beginning of the play, they were cewing on the bone of the kingdom. Goneriel and
regan now have a different bone: tehy are desperatly fighting oer a man
● Edmund says’s he hasn’t hap
● When Edmund tells Regan he hasnt’ slept with goneriel, we understand very clearly that he’s
trying to keep them both happy.
● For this business, It touches us as France invades our land, Not bolds the King, with others
whom, I fear, Most just and heavy causes make oppose.
○ Even goign into this battle on teh wrong side, Shakepseare tells the audience that hes a
good guy
○ Albany knows tha the people on Lear’s ide have been wronged and have just reason to
make a move
○ Alabny is going into the war trying to maintain his territory, not because the french want
to support the King.
● Regan has a scheme on the side
● Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. If you have victory, let the trumpet sound For him
that brought it. Wretched though I seem, I can produce a champion that will prove What is
avouchèd there. If you miscarry, Your business of the world hath so an end, And
machination ceases. Fortune love you. (5.1.46-52)
○ Edgar gives the incriminating letter that was from Gonereil to Edmund.
○ Just in case Edmund surviees the battle, Albany will bow the trumpet and edgar will
revela himself
○ We get the idea that Edgar wants to fight him. He wants to bring down the man that hurt
his father and he wnats to claim back his honour
● Edmund doesn’t want to deal with tthesister that she doesn’t choose. Not only does he want
Albany dead, but he’s ready to dispose of the sister he doesn’t choose.
● Shakespeare is showing that the villains have allegin to no one but themselves.
● Let her who would be rid of him devise His speedy taking off. As for the mercy Which he
intends to Lear and to Cordelia, The battle done and they within our power, Shall never see
his pardon, for my state Stands on me to defend, not to debate. (5.1.72-77)
○ Not only does he plan on killing Alabny and possibly one of the sister, but he is very
clear that if his side wins the battle, he will kill Cordelia and Lear.

Act 5 Scene Two

He rather enjoys his time with Corelia than have her egg or fight for the false life that he has left behind.
He is calm and says that there is no need to cry. She has SAVED him.

Name three ways in which Lear is a childed father in three ways

● Regan and Gonereil were punitive (they punished him) and they were physically abusive and
neglected him
 ● Lear was nurtured and provided for by Cordelia, and if Cordelia is like the mother, then Ken
would be the good father. He was love and provided for by good parents
● The christian imagery of being reborn and finding your innocence and your humility. Lear is
humble in his understanding of not judging others (becoming like a child again)
Scenes in act 4 and 5 that directly fulfill and reflect scenes in the first three acts. Explains two pairings. (6
marks)
● Edmund’s damning letter , and then edgar
● When Oswald in act 2 scene 2 was exalted over the good servants, and was not punished but kent
was punished, but in act 4 scene 2, oswald is struck and killed

Oswald is considered a villain for a variety of reasons. What are some of the reasons?
● Even in his death his last thoughts are on achieving wealth and success.
● He looks at others only as opportunities to advance himself. He latches on to people of power to
get any but of it

● Edmund orders that the Captain do something sinister

● Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Not as a brother (5.2.68-70)
○ Edmund gives Captain instructions and tells him he'll be rewarded if he does as he’s told.
Edmund probably tells this soldier to kill lear and Cordelia
○ Edmund has given this soldier instructions and orders the captain to do something
sinister, and the captain agrees.
● Edmund says that now that they’ve won the battle, he decided to it was appropriate to send
cordila and lear ot a jail cell ,adn he did that because fo this sinister plan that he asked to soldier
to do
● Albany says to edmund that he is overstepping, that he is acting tat he is acting like he has power
eve nhthugh eh doesnt; edmund is not happy in life with his deposition and is always trying to act
like … adn Albany calls him out on it
● Albany says that edgar is out of line as he’s not his brother, and Regan implies that they are on
their way to make their relationship further, so they would technically borhter
● General, Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony. Dispose of them, of me; the walls is
thine. Witness the world that I create thee here My lord and master.
○ Regan is not well all of a sudden, adn sh ewants to make it celar that seh wants t marry
edmund, adn sh epropes to him
● Goneriel says that Regan just wants to use edmund as a sexual object
● Albany has read the letter, adn tnwo that he sees his wife andsisterin law fighting over edmund,
he pubiblyc accused goneriel adn edmund of treason in front of everyone becuase Edgar gave him
the letter
○ Remember that Edgar told Albany to blow the trumpet 3 times when he exposed them
● Albany declared that h’ going to blow the trumpet adn that he's going to fight. In this scene,
Shakespeare gives Albany that emasculinty and hte cerstainty tht was missing earlier in th eplay.
He challenged to kill edmund himself. J
● Just as he’s about to do this and blow, Regan says that she’s sick, and ogneirl sasy that she
hopwes so or shell never trust medicine again
● Goneril has poisoned Regan
● Edmund tries
● This si a gesture tha shows Albany’s masculinity and ascertny. WHen Albany throws his lgoved
down,it means he’s challengin a fight. THis established Albany’s character as noble adn
masculine
● Trust to thy single virtue, for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took
their discharge
○ Edmung has no one to help him
○ Eveyrbody ther wors for Albany -edmund is alone
○ Edmund, who a tthe benign onf the play rallied everyone behind him, now has no one
○ The wheel ahs turned on him.
○ Regn has become so il from teh posion that geonreil gave ehr that she cannot stand- she is
taken off the stage
● The audience is waiting for Edgar to show up, reveal his identity, and kill his brother.
● thou art a traitor, False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father, Conspirant ’gainst this
high illustrious prince, (161-163)
○ Edgar revelas edmund publbcly for wo he really is. You turned your back on teh god,
society, your brother, adn your father
● When Edgar comes to do this, he continues on a pattern. He does this in disguise. E comes in
another person
○ Poor tom, eyewitness, now nobleman
● This is practice, Gloucester. By th’ law of war, thou wast not bound to answer An unknown
opposite. Thou art not vanquished, But cozened and beguiled.
○ This mirror the earlier fight him edgar was caught off guard
● This fulfil th escen when Edmund tricks edmund into a fight where edgar is caught offguard and
in confusion, his emotions are manipulated which leads to him running away
● Now, Edmund is the one caught off guard and he is the one that loses in this fight
● When goneril looks down on edmund for fighting the mysterious knight, its reminiscent from
edgar not having to had fought edmund
● Say if I do; the laws are mine, not thine. Who can arraign me for ’t?
○ Gonereil still believes that she is above everyone else and above te law even after she’s
been exposes
○ Thsi is exactly what got ear into trouble in te firsht play. H ehtoguht that the rich was
above teh law and that they could use their wealth tat could protect them from
consequences
○ This si Lear’s tragic flaw: he believes that his wealth can rpotect
○ He was wrong, but gonreil never learns this lesson
○ Sheakespeare is tryin to trach us tat morality is tied to change and transformation
● Albany is worried that now tha gonereil has been exposes, sh emight do somehting sreastic to
others or herself, and that si why ALbany has asked fro her to be watched
● Edmund admits that he is guilty. Not only does he confess, but he tells everybody that he’s done
more. He confesse,s adn after teh truth comes out, teh wheel clicks into place, adn then edgar is
finally reavealsd as Edgae
● Not only does he reclaim his name, but he reclaims alisn his role as the tru son of Gloucester up
● Th’ hast spoken right. ’Tis true. The wheel is come full circle; I am here.
 ○ Edmund, who rallied against the wheel and the universe, no, he calls it out.
○ Edmund is defeated by this idea of universe an fate and the universe tha the rallied the
agains twhole play, and now he admits that he is wrong, that he lost jhis figth against it.
● Now, edgar is explaining the end of Glcouester’s story,. We didn’t get teh end of lgoucester’s
story on stage, but now we’re having it .
● Edmund slowly has a little bit of remorse in his heart
● Edgar asked Gloucester
● When edfar is revealed, Gloucester is overcome with happiness and dies of a heart attack from the
strain of the emotional back and forth. He dies offstage because he ddin’t wnat to take away from
teh story of Lear adnd did not want to give an al adultere to have a celeberated on stage.
● We hear that Glcouester is dead adn that he died siling. The final sceen of GLoucester is off stage
so as not to draw attention ffrom Lear AND he is an aldultere not worty of a celebratory death sce
● Shortly after we what of glcoester death adn the raveal, kent comes forth adn revaaeal his identity.
● The wheel of fortune has turne; the good guys haare now in the true version of themselves. They
are butterflies and have emerged from their cocoons.Kent emerges as teh noble valiant servant of
Lear dan edgar emerges as teh good some of gocuester. Eeyrbody is now seen as hwo th ey really
asre
● Regan has died by goneril’s poisnening, and Goneriel killed herself with a knife because she
didn’t think she woudl get away with it.
● Edmund: I was contracted to them both. All three Now marry in an instant.
○ All three fo us are nw cgoign to be marrie d(unitied) in hell
○ Thai show tha dmudn now believes in heavely dispensation, fate and justice
● Edmun is dying because he was slain by Edgar’s slash
● Edmund realises that he finally got ht attention fteh attention he wanted fromsociety so badly adn
hearing from them, he is so moved that he tells htem to go quickly to the castle t=ebcause he
ordered from Lear adn cordelia to be killed
● Edmund say that he and regan
● Their plan was to have Cordelia killed adn to sya htat she killed herself. This would discredit her
and ruin her reputatoin permaenetly
● They were too late. Lear survived, but cordelia didnt’
● Lear, holding her dead obdy, keeps tryig to check if she’s alive, but she is not alive
● He illed th eslave that killed cordelia. One f his last acts is to actauly
● In killing the person teh killed Ocrdelia, he s a good king (rbign justice), adn a good father
(avenging his daughter’s death)
● Edmund has died, REgan and goneilr have died
● When Lear comes with Cordeli wh id ead, this flfills her role as a messianic figure, as messianic
figures usually die for a cause. IN coming back, she puts herslef in danger and is killed. Hs eided
a sacrificial death. The only reason hes as died is because sh echose ot be with Lera. Liek Chirsit
she is a sacrifical lamb Sh eha to die bin order for the kingdom to be restored and peace.
● Now that she ids dead, all truth is now revealed to him (Lear), and he is now seeing htings and the
good way
● Whenglcoester learn shis lesson and sees dgar, eh died, and we spec tht esame thing will happen
● And my poor fool is hanged
○ And my poor fool is hanged
 ○ Here, he refers explictily to Cordeli as teh fool
○ Shakespeare brings them both together; hte fool was th essence of Cordelia
● Lear goes to take off his clothes, adn he asked Edgar to undo his buttons. NOw, eh s asking tobe
undressed to take his final death
● With true love in his heart for his daughter, which is something he did not have in the begging of
the play, Lear having learned his lesson, dies.
● The wheel has fuly turned
● The universe allows gloucester adn Lear to live longer then they should have (they were living on
borrowed time)
● Albany’s last words: (speakign directly to edgar adn kent): Friends of my soul, you twain Rule
in this realm, and the gored state sustain.
○ Kent and edgar now become th enew leaders of the country,
● Kents’ last words: I have a journey, sir, shortly to go; My master calls me. I must not say no.
○ Kent states th he will die soon asnd that he wil nt be hte ne ruler of tehcounry, emannign
that it is left edgar
○ Kent is being loyal only to Lear, dn this is a very romantic image: a true loving servant,
when teh master dies, will kill themselves to reach the master in the afterlife, as teh
servant has reached his purpose
● Edgar’s last words:
○ Edgar is the voice of teh future adn edgar stands for a respect of nature order: loyalty to
family (he honours Gloucester), adn loyalty to the country (ni th end, he honours lear)
● The st

Two most important scenes: Act 4 Scene 6 and Act 5 Scene 3

Act 4 Scene 6

● Three parts
○ Glocuester attempts to kill himself but is tricked by his son edgar
○ Lear appears and make profound revelations about him and Gloucester
○ Oswald returns and tries to kill LGocuester.
● Act 4 scene 6 comprised of
● Decpetion, reversal reunion adn vioelnce - gie and expmple fo each
○ Deception - Edgar deceiving his fahter out of killing himelf
○ Reversal - Lear comes shrouded in weeds with a crown of flowers now ranting lunatics,
where in teh beginning he was a king who knew nothing, now he is no one but knows th
lessons of life.
○ Reunion - GLocuester and lear are reunited
○ Violence - Oswald dies
● Order vs. disorder: teh good characters priotire order priotorize order adn the evli chacters focus
on disorder
○ Order- Edgar: Gloucester want sot kill himself twice in the play: when he thought he was
at the top of the cliff of Dover, and after they lost the war and hear about it Gloucester
 wnats to rot in teh kial cell, adn both time, Edgar shows a desire for oderer through the
way that he continuously ushes his fahter away from the idea of suicidal
○ When Cordelia comes back from Edngland, sh ebrings in teh frech troops to reinstates.
The troops are there to pretect Lear, teh King, ho shoudl be disrecspected, and to preovent
Civil War, which is also disroder
○ Kent represent teh lyal and good servants. The natural ordr fo thinsg is for teh servant to
be obedient and loyal, adn that is what he is, unlike Oswald. We see this all the way
through the end, when kent wants to die when Lear dies.
■ Kent is able to chaperone and stay by teh King’s side. He sacrifies himsel
knowign that he could get caught but stays near Lear since he is the king
○ DIsroder - regan adn gonereril represent disrodrder in many ways

Act 5 Scne 3
● Regan dies by posion
● Goenreil dies by suicide: this is representation of dirsoder that we see on th villanous side
● This is why when Glcouester tries to kill himself, edgar stops him becuas ehe recocnizes tahthe si
on teh rigth side of things.
● Lear is being a just king (punishig a criminal) adn being a good fahter by gettng revenge on the
man who killed his daughter. This si teh sal of revelation for lear.
● The character of edgar adn endmund:
○ Dgar is a just and virtuous character, but he shows his integrity f=through his actions
○ Edgar, in teh end, take son his brother in combat knwogin that he might die, reday to
sacrifice his life. This reminds us of Cordelia, comign back to negland, kent beign present
in teh kingdom even htough Lear threaten to kill him. Edgar puts an effort into making
thing sti=rugth htrough stopping his father from killing himself, and
○ Edmund does relent. He does change his mind When Edmudn changed his mind, we get
teh idea that it comes from teh fact that he seems seen by Goneriel adn Regan
○ Yet Edmund was beloved: He wanted to be loved adn seen, and even though they were
cenonmous snakes, ren adn Gonereil prode thi to him. It is that love that causes him . A
sa bastard son, he did not feel accepted, He felt ath h dneedd to figth for that, and wants
he got that, he changed his course.
Course Hero theme video - King lear Themes
Aging
● Young generation vs old generation si very important
● Sheskepeare write abut this a lot
● Tat tension between old adn yound fighting for perspective adn power is somthgin we discussed
Family Relations
● Family relations have legal and emotional repercussion
○ Legal: Banishing cordelia, giving his inheritance to goneril and regan
○ Emotional: GLocuester emotionally abandons his bastard son, which causes Edmund to
bring down his whole family (except edgar) - albany, edgar and kent are the character that
live on
Madness and foolishness
●
Vision
● Explored in literal and symbolic ways
●