After reading the first Act of King Lear it is basically apparent what is eventually going to happen. In my opinion, King Lear is not a likeable character. He sends away his daughter, who is supposedly the only one who is truly honest to him and then sends Kent away for defending her. I am not entirely sure on his state of mind, was there a hint that maybe the kings old age is making him act this way?
There is obviously a lot of tension in this play between fathers and their children. Gloucester mentions this in 1.2.101-104, “This villain of mine comes under the prediction; there’s son against father. The king falls from bias of nature; there’s father against child. We have seen the best of our time.” Edmund talks after this about villains and foolishness and trust.
There is an inevitable plot against the king by many sides. His two daughters speak of his old age and keeping an eye on him so this seems like they are awaiting his death. Edmund and his brother Edgar have something up their sleeves, as read in the note, Gloucester thinks Edgar to be a villain. I believe that somewhere hidden in the unwanted marriage that Cordelia was forced into with the king of France lays a plot to deceit Lear, Especially if Cordelia was the only faithful and honest daughter to him. I still do not quite understand why he made her leave in the first place, is it because she expressed to him that she didn’t want to be married?
We also have another example of disguising in this play, as we have in all the others. After Kent is banished, he shows up dressed in serving clothes and tells the king that he wishes to be there to help. Kent sits at the dinner and watches the entertainment with the king. He is there to witness the Fool calling the king a fool. He is also there to see Goneril tell the king that he is not the same person he once was and has the king questioning himself. I am confused as to who he is cursing at the end on Scene 4 when he says, “Into her womb convey sterility! Dry up her organs of increase; And from her derogate body never spring A babe to honor her!” (1.4.255-258) This passage was very gruesome to me and I took it as him cursing one of his daughters which would just make me hate him more.
I hope that King Lear gets what is coming to him because the first act has not given him many good qualities at all, especially as a father.
4 comments:
You make a lot of good points here, Jenn. I agree with you that we can pretty much figure out what is going to happen to King Lear, and I hope he gets what's coming for him. He proves to be a horrible father when he disowns his own daughter because she is doing what feels right to her. In response to your question about why Cordelia left: I think she left when The King of France was impressed by her honesty and decides to make her queen. Lear sends them away without his blessing. Does that answer your question at all?
King Lear's situation is an interesting one, especially considering he is a King with two daughters and no male heirs. There is no doubt that his integrity is very low, but considering the situations that all the other kings have put themselves in, he could be worse. I do keep wondering why he did not have more children in the hopes of having a son, which was certainly common practice for royalty.
I really appreciate your strong reaction to Lear, Jennifer, and look forward to finding out if he becomes any more likeable to you as the play moves on. It is interesting how many people in the class express a dislike for Lear--is it possible that we have a hard time understanding him because he is in a different life stage from most of us? Or does this matter in Shakespeare?
I think the reason why King Lear would curse one of his daughters to never having children is an issue of inheritance. Essentially, if his daughter cannot have children, that means if she succeeds the throne, she will not have an inheritor lined up to replace her. I'd call it a pretty strong thing to wish because it would disrupt the flow of the royal family.
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