A prominent theme throughout the play was blindness. The blind do not want to see, but a loss allows them to do so. Glouchester and Lear embodied this perfectly. Glouchester was blind to Edmunds plot against him. His symbolic blindness leads to his physical blindness. It was his loss of sight that allowed him to finally see his wrongdoings. As soon as he realized it, he says “Oh my follies! Then Edgar was abused, kind gods, forgive me that, and proper him” (Act III, scene VII). He felt remorse, and tried to right his wrongs, and because of it, was one of the few characters that had a happy ending. Lear had a similar experience. He was blinded by his power and status. He did not see who truly loved him, until it was too late. He realized his wrongs when Cordelia dies. He states, “If it be so, it is a chance which does redeem all sorrows that ever I have felt.” (Act V, scene III). He wishes he could make up for it, but alas, he cannot.
These quotes are important because they show pivotal turning points for two major characters. They each make significant personality changes. They both relay Shakespeare’s message of blindness and the changes people make due to loss
Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders follow us disquietly to our graves." -Act 1 Scene 2 This quote displays the pessimism and selfishness that engulfs many of the characters, even some of the good ones, in this play. It shows how effortlessly Glouchester, a supposedly admirable man, was swayed by evil. He did not even instigate his illegitimate son's accusation against Edgar. The majority of the cast can be just as easily persuaded. I think that Shakespeare is stating just how easily we can be corrupted. Throughout the entire play you see men giving in to temptation to either save themselves or appease their desires. King Lear for instance, he banished his own daughter and his closest friend, because they refused to lie to him to sooth his own bruised ego. Edmund is another example, he is so deeply damaged by his neglected life thus far, that he sets his brother up and attempts to murder his father. He thrived off of chaos and pandemonium and created whenever necessary, in order to create an atmosphere in which he could manipulate those around him, for his own personal gain. Amidst all of the evil and selfishness, there are a few rain rays of good scattered throughout the cast, such as Cordelia,Kent, and even the Fool.They provide the contrast needed to show how truly malicious and egocentric and slightly mischievous and spiteful the bulk of the characters are. These characters find their comeuppance in the end,but still, their actions and thoughts rule the play.
"Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty According to my bond; no more nor less."-Cordelia (Act 1, Scene 1) With this quote, Cordelia expresses her affection for Lear in the most honest way possible, effectively saying "I love you as a daughter should love her father, but I will not mar my integrity. I will not be like my sisters and lie in order to gain a fiefdom." Regrettably, Lear takes this not as a show of honesty and reverence, but rather as an insult.
I selected this quote because it shows how pure and honest Cordelia is. Also, it leads to a showcase of how blind and foolish Lear has become in his old age, perhaps showing the first signs of his slipping sanity.
“I might have saved her; now she’s gone forever.” (Act 5, Scene 3, Line 270)
King Lear is lamenting the loss of his favorite daughter, Cordelia, after she was hanged by the order of Edmund. Lear is stating that he tried to save her, but he was too late. He avenged her by killing the servant who hanged her, but it will not bring her back. His words go beyond his most recent actions, though. Lear is pointing out that he has had many opportunities to prevent her death, but he was too proud to acknowledge that he made a mistake. His first chance was when he banished Cordelia. He could have called her back, apologized, and everything would have been all right. Throughout the book, Lear is advised to reconcile with Cordelia, but he refuses. If he had owned up to his mistake at any of these times, Cordelia would have likely survived as well. His final chance, when he and Cordelia were being led to their deaths, was taken too late, and Cordelia dies. Lear knows that it is indirectly his fault that Cordelia is no longer with him, and he finally accepts the blame in this quote.
I chose this quote because of the deeper meaning it contains. It is Lear’s way of apologizing to Cordelia for failing her, and his realization of what he had become. Lear failed to save Cordelia because of his pride, revealing his fatal flaw and proving that he is a tragic hero. This quote pulls the story together and gives it a deeper meaning.
"As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; They kill us for their sport." (Act 4, Scene 1)
Gloucester says this after he becomes blinded by Cornwall, as a statement of whether or not there is truly justice in the world, or if the gods offer cruelty and punishment as a mere game to the people living on this earth. The statement seems to be true as the story plays out when the good die with the bad for no true reason other than the faults of men who attempted to have remorse at the end of their lives. Gloucester believes that no matter what we try to change, the outcome will still be a cruel and evil "sport" for the gods watching over. When Gloucester comes to realize the truth of this statement it then drives him to end his own life in an attempt to change the cruel fate the gods have planned for him.
This quote was of great importance because it not only brought forth the idea that regardless of the attempts to change fate, the innocent die because of cruel and unfair games played by ones outside of their power and not just because of the faults made by the tragic characters of this play.
“The man that makes his toe What he his heart should make Shall of a corn cry woe, And turn his sleep to wake.” -(Act 3, Scene 2)
The fool says this to King Lear during the king’s wild rage at the thunderstorm. Not only is the fool attempting to calm the king, he is also being honest with him, trying to help him realize his fault. This quote in particular points out that the pain and rejection that was slowly driving Lear mad was Lear’s own fault. Lear had no gratitude for Cordelia, his most beloved and most loyal daughter. His ungratefulness toward her made him ignorant, prideful, and angry, filling his life with misery and leaving him with very few loyal friends.
I chose this quote because I believe that all the chaos, disloyalty, and death in this play can be blamed on Lear and his arrogance. If he had not been so desperate for shallow affection from Cordelia, he would not have gone mad when she refused it, and there would have been no means for the rest of the characters to fight and plot against each other.
"Mend your speech a little, lest it may mar your fortunes"
I chose this quote because this is the beginning of Lear's journey towards self-destruction. He is urging Cordelia to rephrase her confession of her honest love for her father. Unfortunately, she explains herself clearer which greatly displeases Lear and in a blind rage banishes his most honest of his daughters and therefore choosing to nest with the venemous serpents that are his other two daughters. Shortly after banishing his daughter, his loyal servant Kent is also banished for looking out for the King's best interests. Another victim to the madman's insanity. Because of this Kent is forced to return in disguise to maintain his sole purpose in life which is looking after the King, secretly reporting to the fair Cordelia.
Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues Have humbled to all strokes. That I am wretched Makes thee the happier. Heavens, deal so still. Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man, That slaves your ordinance, that will not see Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly. So distribution should undo excess, And each man have enough. (Act 4, Scene 1)
Gloucester has just been blinded for being loyal to his King, and has come to terms with the probable true fate of Edgar. Gloucester life has fallen into pieces before him and he has nothing to live for. Coming across a Poor Tom in the road, who happens to be his son Edgar, Gloucester becomes more aware to the socially situation around him. Now that he no longer believes he has any life to live for and feels the misery going on around him, Gloucester gives everything he has to the Poor Tom, and tells him that his misery should be the Poor Tom's fortune.
I chose this passage, because I felt like Shakespeare was trying to send a bold message to the King, Queen, and noble people of his day. Informing them through dramatic irony, that the lower class could have very well been their son or daughter may make the people of higher class feel more charitable and understand. This scene is meant to humanize Gloucester and make him more of a desirable character than ever.
A prominent theme throughout the play was blindness. The blind do not want to see, but a loss allows them to do so. Glouchester and Lear embodied this perfectly. Glouchester was blind to Edmunds plot against him. His symbolic blindness leads to his physical blindness. It was his loss of sight that allowed him to finally see his wrongdoings. As soon as he realized it, he says “Oh my follies! Then Edgar was abused, kind gods, forgive me that, and proper him” (Act III, scene VII). He felt remorse, and tried to right his wrongs, and because of it, was one of the few characters that had a happy ending. Lear had a similar experience. He was blinded by his power and status. He did not see who truly loved him, until it was too late. He realized his wrongs when Cordelia dies. He states, “If it be so, it is a chance which does redeem all sorrows that ever I have felt.” (Act V, scene III). He wishes he could make up for it, but alas, he cannot.
ReplyDeleteThese quotes are important because they show pivotal turning points for two major characters. They each make significant personality changes. They both relay Shakespeare’s message of blindness and the changes people make due to loss
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteMachinations, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders follow us disquietly to our graves."
Delete-Act 1 Scene 2
This quote displays the pessimism and selfishness that engulfs many of the characters, even some of the good ones, in this play. It shows how effortlessly Glouchester, a supposedly admirable man, was swayed by evil. He did not even instigate his illegitimate son's accusation against Edgar. The majority of the cast can be just as easily persuaded. I think that Shakespeare is stating just how easily we can be corrupted.
Throughout the entire play you see men giving in to temptation to either save themselves or appease their desires. King Lear for instance, he banished his own daughter and his closest friend, because they refused to lie to him to sooth his own bruised ego. Edmund is another example, he is so deeply damaged by his neglected life thus far, that he sets his brother up and attempts to murder his father. He thrived off of chaos and pandemonium and created whenever necessary, in order to create an atmosphere in which he could manipulate those around him, for his own personal gain.
Amidst all of the evil and selfishness, there are a few rain rays of good scattered throughout the cast, such as Cordelia,Kent, and even the Fool.They provide the contrast needed to show how truly malicious and egocentric and slightly mischievous and spiteful the bulk of the characters are. These characters find their comeuppance in the end,but still, their actions and thoughts rule the play.
"Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
ReplyDeleteMy heart into my mouth. I love your majesty
According to my bond; no more nor less."-Cordelia
(Act 1, Scene 1)
With this quote, Cordelia expresses her affection for Lear in the most honest way possible, effectively saying "I love you as a daughter should love her father, but I will not mar my integrity. I will not be like my sisters and lie in order to gain a fiefdom." Regrettably, Lear takes this not as a show of honesty and reverence, but rather as an insult.
I selected this quote because it shows how pure and honest Cordelia is. Also, it leads to a showcase of how blind and foolish Lear has become in his old age, perhaps showing the first signs of his slipping sanity.
“I might have saved her; now she’s gone forever.” (Act 5, Scene 3, Line 270)
ReplyDeleteKing Lear is lamenting the loss of his favorite daughter, Cordelia, after she was hanged by the order of Edmund. Lear is stating that he tried to save her, but he was too late. He avenged her by killing the servant who hanged her, but it will not bring her back. His words go beyond his most recent actions, though. Lear is pointing out that he has had many opportunities to prevent her death, but he was too proud to acknowledge that he made a mistake. His first chance was when he banished Cordelia. He could have called her back, apologized, and everything would have been all right. Throughout the book, Lear is advised to reconcile with Cordelia, but he refuses. If he had owned up to his mistake at any of these times, Cordelia would have likely survived as well. His final chance, when he and Cordelia were being led to their deaths, was taken too late, and Cordelia dies. Lear knows that it is indirectly his fault that Cordelia is no longer with him, and he finally accepts the blame in this quote.
I chose this quote because of the deeper meaning it contains. It is Lear’s way of apologizing to Cordelia for failing her, and his realization of what he had become. Lear failed to save Cordelia because of his pride, revealing his fatal flaw and proving that he is a tragic hero. This quote pulls the story together and gives it a deeper meaning.
"As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; They kill us for their sport." (Act 4, Scene 1)
ReplyDeleteGloucester says this after he becomes blinded by Cornwall, as a statement of whether or not there is truly justice in the world, or if the gods offer cruelty and punishment as a mere game to the people living on this earth. The statement seems to be true as the story plays out when the good die with the bad for no true reason other than the faults of men who attempted to have remorse at the end of their lives. Gloucester believes that no matter what we try to change, the outcome will still be a cruel and evil "sport" for the gods watching over. When Gloucester comes to realize the truth of this statement it then drives him to end his own life in an attempt to change the cruel fate the gods have planned for him.
This quote was of great importance because it not only brought forth the idea that regardless of the attempts to change fate, the innocent die because of cruel and unfair games played by ones outside of their power and not just because of the faults made by the tragic characters of this play.
“The man that makes his toe
ReplyDeleteWhat he his heart should make
Shall of a corn cry woe,
And turn his sleep to wake.”
-(Act 3, Scene 2)
The fool says this to King Lear during the king’s wild rage at the thunderstorm. Not only is the fool attempting to calm the king, he is also being honest with him, trying to help him realize his fault. This quote in particular points out that the pain and rejection that was slowly driving Lear mad was Lear’s own fault. Lear had no gratitude for Cordelia, his most beloved and most loyal daughter. His ungratefulness toward her made him ignorant, prideful, and angry, filling his life with misery and leaving him with very few loyal friends.
I chose this quote because I believe that all the chaos, disloyalty, and death in this play can be blamed on Lear and his arrogance. If he had not been so desperate for shallow affection from Cordelia, he would not have gone mad when she refused it, and there would have been no means for the rest of the characters to fight and plot against each other.
"Mend your speech a little, lest it may mar your fortunes"
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because this is the beginning of Lear's journey towards self-destruction. He is urging Cordelia to rephrase her confession of her honest love for her father. Unfortunately, she explains herself clearer which greatly displeases Lear and in a blind rage banishes his most honest of his daughters and therefore choosing to nest with the venemous serpents that are his other two daughters.
Shortly after banishing his daughter, his loyal servant Kent is also banished for looking out for the King's best interests. Another victim to the madman's insanity. Because of this Kent is forced to return in disguise to maintain his sole purpose in life which is looking after the King, secretly reporting to the fair Cordelia.
Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues
ReplyDeleteHave humbled to all strokes. That I am wretched
Makes thee the happier. Heavens, deal so still.
Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man,
That slaves your ordinance, that will not see
Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly.
So distribution should undo excess,
And each man have enough.
(Act 4, Scene 1)
Gloucester has just been blinded for being loyal to his King, and has come to terms with the probable true fate of Edgar. Gloucester life has fallen into pieces before him and he has nothing to live for. Coming across a Poor Tom in the road, who happens to be his son Edgar, Gloucester becomes more aware to the socially situation around him. Now that he no longer believes he has any life to live for and feels the misery going on around him, Gloucester gives everything he has to the Poor Tom, and tells him that his misery should be the Poor Tom's fortune.
I chose this passage, because I felt like Shakespeare was trying to send a bold message to the King, Queen, and noble people of his day. Informing them through dramatic irony, that the lower class could have very well been their son or daughter may make the people of higher class feel more charitable and understand. This scene is meant to humanize Gloucester and make him more of a desirable character than ever.