King Lear – Lecture Notes
Literature Module – Second Year
Student: Jamie L.
Act I: Power, Pride, and Performance
- Lear starts by dividing his kingdom, demanding love declarations from his
daughters ("Which of you shall we say doth love us most?").
- Goneril and Regan respond with embellished praise. Cordelia refuses to exaggerate
her love ("I cannot heave / My heart into my mouth.").
- Prof emphasized that this exposes Lear’s tragic flaw early: a deep need for
flattery and control masked as generosity.
- The "love test" feels theatrical—Lear wants devotion on his terms, not truth.
He’s giving up power, but not really letting go.
- His decisions to disown Cordelia and banish Kent seem impulsive and short-
sighted. Kent’s "See better, Lear" stands out.
Act II: Betrayal and Mirrored Conflicts
- Tensions rise as Lear realizes Goneril and Regan are not as loyal as they
claimed.
- Edmund deceives his father Gloucester and targets his brother Edgar. Strong
parallels with Lear’s family issues.
- We debated whether Edmund deserves sympathy due to his status as a “bastard.”
Some felt he's shaped by marginalization, others saw him as calculating.
- Gloucester is duped by Edmund just as Lear was by his older daughters. Both are
blind to true loyalty.
- Sam noted that real insight for both fathers only comes after loss or literal
blindness.
Act III: Storms and Self-Discovery
- Lear’s mental state unravels during the iconic storm scene ("Blow, winds, and
crack your cheeks!").
- Prof described the storm as reflecting Lear’s internal breakdown. It’s less about
weather and more about psychological turmoil.
- Lear expresses empathy for the poor and criticizes societal inequality ("Take
physic, pomp").
- The Fool continues to speak hard truths, but vanishes after this act. Some think
he becomes part of Lear’s conscience.
- Our group connected this scene to the theme of perception—madness brings Lear
clarity.
- Quote: “I am a man / More sinned against than sinning.” We explored whether
that’s a fair self-assessment.
Act IV: Suffering, Return, and Recognition
- Gloucester is physically blinded—one of the play’s most brutal scenes. Regan and
Cornwall are vicious.
- Gloucester and Lear, both humbled, encounter each other. Gloucester’s “I stumbled
when I saw” reflects painful awareness.
- Cordelia returns and forgives Lear. “No cause, no cause” was discussed in class—
pure compassion or idealized femininity?
- Edgar helps his father in disguise, as Poor Tom. He postpones revealing his
identity. Is it strategic or emotional distance?
- Lear’s madness turns quieter, more reflective. He’s gaining philosophical
perspective ("Through tattered clothes small vices do appear").
Act V: Catastrophe Without Consolation
- Edmund captures Lear and Cordelia. Cordelia is executed even though Edmund tries
to undo the order—too little, too late.
- Lear’s entrance with Cordelia’s body is heartbreaking. “Howl, howl, howl!” hits
hard. Despair overtakes him.
- Prof noted the lack of moral justice. Cordelia’s death feels arbitrary. Is this
realism or cosmic cruelty?
- Lear dies from grief. The play ends with Edgar and Kent left to carry on. Kent
hints he’s ready to follow Lear into death.
- Edgar closes the play. “The weight of this sad time we must obey.” A grim call to
accept suffering.
Key Themes for Exams:
1. Power and Authority: Lear fails to relinquish control while still demanding
respect.
2. Vision and Insight: True understanding comes only through suffering and loss.
3. Justice and Fate: No neat resolution. The innocent suffer, the guilty aren't
always punished.
4. Madness and Insight: Lear’s madness is transformative. It exposes truths he
ignored.
5. Loyalty and Betrayal: Loyalty from Cordelia, Kent, Edgar; betrayal by Goneril,
Regan, Edmund.
6. Nature and Order: Natural world as mirror of human chaos and emotion.
7. Disguise and Identity: Hidden identities (Kent, Edgar) complicate our
understanding of truth.
Important Quotes:
- “Nothing will come of nothing.” (Act I)
- “I am a man more sinned against than sinning.” (Act III)
- “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is / To have a thankless child!” (Act I)
- “We two alone will sing like birds i’ the cage.” (Act V)
- “The wheel is come full circle.” (Act V)
Reflection:
Lear isn’t a play about villains and heroes—it’s about flawed people who suffer and
sometimes learn. The play hits emotionally because it doesn’t offer comfort.
Instead, it asks: What happens when truth comes too late? What if forgiveness isn’t
enough? It’s a brutal, moving exploration of love, power, and the cost of pride.
