Critical Appreciation of Act one Scene one in King Lear

The Critical Appreciation of Act 1 Scene 1 King Lear, a historical play written by William Shakespeare exposes the vulnerability of great men. King Lear takes on the role of the tragic hero who is destroyed by his main flaws- arrogance and his love of flattery. Act one scene one of King Lear is pivotal to the play as it is the scene that sets the plot in motion. Act one acts as an exposition and from scene one the reader is able to gather key information about characters and events in the play. It is important to note that most of the primary characters are introduced in scene one, whether through dialogue or by being physically present. Also the initial conversation between Kent and Gloucester reveals information concerning the three characters of the sub-plot- Gloucester, his heir Edgar and his illegitimate son, Edmund. Edmund is made fully aware that he will not receive an equal share of the inheritance and his father's estate will go to Edgar, Gloucester's legitimate heir. The sub-plot therefore revolves around Edmund's determination to obtain fortune and position in the eyes of society. Their conversation also reveals the main plot which involves Lear's intention of dividing his kingdom among his daughters. Lear's action will be a shock to Elizabethan society. A typical Shakespearean audience believed in the divine order or the natural order of things, in which the

  • Word count: 1038
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

King Lear: Act I Scene IV

Discuss your response to Lear in Act I Scene IV Role reversal is central to the plot of King Lear, and perhaps one of the most pivotal scenes which stresses role reversal has truly occurred is Act I Scene IV. Following both the foolish division of Lear's land and the utter destruction of natural order, King Lear begins to realise his 'power' has been stripped and even those below him begin to realise this and treat him accordingly. The act welcomes a disguised Kent who still wishes to serve his King despite Lear's earlier mistreatment towards him. Act I Scene IV also introduces the Fool which has been mentioned to have been in hiding since Cordelia's banishment. The jester begins to commentate on Lear's illogical decisions and the consequences of them while Lear infuriates at the fact that he is receiving little, or no respect from those around him. Firstly, Lear close to the beginning of the scene realises he has been mistreated as a King and as a father. There seems to be a kind of unnatural theme running throughout the play heretofore and it continues in Act I Scene IV. Lear realises himself that he has been 'neglect of lately' which is bizarre to an audience as he is, or was the King. Despite his current status, he still was noble: does nobility and respect dissolve with retirement? Indeed, Lear probably didn't retire but rather quit his responsibilities and leadership

  • Ranking:
  • Word count: 1190
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

King Lear. The theme of disorder is one of the main and important issues in the play.

Lear The theme of disorder is one of the main and important issues in the play. Lear's selfish and greedy act of dividing the country, 'know that we have divided in three our kingdom' doesn't only creates natural madness and chaos but in this act leads to social madness and frenzy that leads to pain, death and betrayal. Lear represents an ageing society in decomposition, imperfect in its operation and function; hence, his act of banishing Cordelia, 'Thy truth then be thy dower' is due to his lack of judgement. For a Jacobean audience, this would be seen as political madness and suicide and it would frighten many who would have been reminded of the civil war, which would have been fresh in many peoples' minds. His irrational act leads to Goneril, Regan and Edmund exercising their cruel powers to the full. It leads Goneril and Regan into humiliating Lear by putting Kent (his servant) on the stock 'who stocked my servant?' and later on by reducing Lear's might 'what need one?' Shakespeare tries to thematically reinforce Lear's actions at the start of the play, the common belief was that kingship was bestowed by God and Lear's act of transgression has allowed his daughters to behave in the most inhumane and cruel fashion, which ultimately has caused an internal tempest in the kingdom. This is illustrated by the successive use of the interrogative 'What fifty followers? Is it

  • Word count: 707
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Close Analysis of Act 3 Scene 4 of King Lear

Looking closely at Lear's Speech in Act III, Scene IV (lines 6-33), how is the tragic genre of disorder in 'King Lear' developed further? You should make a close reading of the speech, as well as draw on your wider knowledge of the play. Shakespeare's language portrays tragedy and disorder in King Lear in many ways, especially in the context of developing the idea of disorder in Act 3, Scene 4. The Oxford Dictionary defines disorder in three ways, all of which are portrayed in King Lear. The definition is as follows: "a lack of order; confusion, the disruption of peaceful and law-abiding behaviour [and/or] (Medicine) a disruption of normal physical or mental functions."1 The overall purpose of Act 3 is: to juxtapose events preceding events; outline the action of a single stormy night and chart Lear's descent in to madness and much of this scene on Lear's mental disintegration. In Act 3 Scene 4, Lear is a broken man in a fragile state who is seeking mental redemption from the storm which can be interpreted as from the Gods. He isn't bothered about his physical state and more concerned about his mental anguish. This contrasts with the strong and powerful king who is depicted in Act 1 and 2. This shows a lack of order because the audience and society expects a king to be strong and powerful so they know he's in control. Shakespeare's technique of characterising the tragic hero

  • Word count: 1654
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Write a careful comparison of two passages: show how Edmund Talbot's 'rite of passage' develops in the first half of the text.

Write a careful comparison of two passages: show how Edmund Talbot's 'rite of passage' develops in the first half of the text. In William Golding's Rites of Passage we are taken on an adventure told through the journal of the young aristocrat, Edmund Talbot and by a wretched parson, Robert James Colly. Not only does Edmund go on a journey to Australia for the first time but goes through a 'rite of passage' himself, along the way. On the first day of the journey when Edmund arrives into his confined, new environment, he is quite unaware of what life is going to be like on a ship. He is very arrogant in the way that he demands to see the captain as soon as the atmosphere of the ship doesn't suite his liking. "Lord Sir!" said he. (Wheeler) "You'll soon get used to that!" "I do not wish to get used to it! Where is the captain of this vessel?" page 5 Edmund steps onto the ship, he is quick to criticise his surroundings showing he is rather naïve, he does not consider what something is or where it came from but is quick to judge just as he does with Colly, on the second day. There is much about Edmund which suggest his attitudes are very childish, although he is of high importance compared to the other passengers and would have a servant to tend to him, he does seem to rely on Wheeler as a child would rely on its parent in strange surroundings. Talbot's attitude

  • Word count: 1119
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Consider the role of the Fool in King Lear. How important is he to the play as a whole?

King Lear Essay Question Consider the role of the Fool in King Lear. How important is he to the play as a whole? How has the role been treated by different critics and in different performances? How might the role reflect the culture of Shakespeare's time? How would you prefer the role of the Fool to be performed? The Fool is considered an important character in the play even though he is not a major participant in events witnessed. His comments, full of ironic insight, provide wisdom and reasoning for Lear at times of need. He generally plays three major roles; Lear's inner - conscience, represents Lear's alter ego and plays a dramatic chorus. The way the character is portrayed also provides us with a social commentator and vehicle for pathos. Although the Fool may seem strange to us, an Elizabethan audience would have greeted the Fool with great familiarity. The position was a historic one in Shakespeare's time, with the monarch appointing an official court jester (Fool). In conventional drama of the day he was a hold over from morality plays, with his role-becoming classic. His role had established characteristics and responsibilities. Among them the Fool had license to roam the stage and interact with the audience often joking and talking directly to them. He had great popularity with the audience of the time, with his role a bridge between the action on stage and

  • Ranking:
  • Word count: 2163
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

In Shakespeare's King Lear, the Fools main function is to play three major roles. Discuss

In Shakespeare's, King Lear, the Fools main function is to play three major roles. The first of these roles is to play King Lear's "inner-conscience". The fool provides basic wisdom and reasoning for the King at much needed times. His second role as the Fool is to work as amusement for Lear in times of sadness and his third role as one of the only people besides the Duke of Kent and Cordelia with the ability to stand up to King Lear. I plan to use these roles and other functions of the fool to examine their effect on other characters in the play and how they develop with the plot. I will use my own knowledge and that of: Arnold Kettle, Kathleen McLuskie and ... to support my thoughts on his functions. The fool works as the "inner conscience" of Lear throughout the play quote . He informs him of his mistakes (follies) . quote . The fool shows Lear the side of reasoning and tries to persuade Lear that it was wrong to banish Cordelia. The fool first appearance is in Act 1, scene four, after Cordelia had moved away with the King of France, due to the bad judgement of King Lear. The fool knows that King Lear has done wrong by giving all his land away to his 2 other daughters, Goneril and Regan, and tells him so in act one, scene four, when he says, "All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with." Lines 147-148. The

  • Word count: 2420
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Discuss the role of the fool in ‘King Lear’.

Sarah Leighton 13FH Play: 'King Lear' by William Shakespeare Title: Discuss the role of the fool in 'King Lear'. Originally a fool was simply a madman that was brought into court for people to laugh at their unusual antics. People would also pay to take a tour of Bedlam to view the senile patients for their entertainment. Gradually people began to take upon the role of the fool as a job. Often living for many years in court they could become an intimate friend of the employer, yet the strict rules of society meant that he could never be called a friend, as an aristocrat could never be seen to have a servant for a close companion. Most of what a fool would jest about would have been based on what he could see of life, which would be portrayed in a satirical manner and could possibly be offensive to the employer or onlookers. For this reason there would always be limits to the fools behavior, keeping a clear sense of authority in the relationship. This would also allow the employers to keep themselves satisfactorily distanced from the fool, making it easier to punish or replace him. The fool could also be used to channel embarrassment away from the employer by making the fool seem foolish. The Fool in King Lear is such a character. Named Fool and the epitome of foolishness he could be heard and yet not listened to. The court jester who ironically has good sense

  • Word count: 1805
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

An Examination of the Significance of the Fool in King Lear

An Examination of the Significance of the Fool in King Lear A Fool is used in plays as a professional jester or clown whose function it was to amuse the king and his followers by his jokes and witty remarks. The Fool enjoyed the freedom to speak on any subject and to comment on persons and events without any restraint. The Fool's function was purely to provide entertainment and to amuse people. Shakespeare's objective in introducing the fool in King Lear is to provide comic relief in the play where the events are very tragic and oppressing. The jokes of the Fool serve to lighten the gloom and to relieve the tension and the stress which are generated by the cruel treatment delivered to Lear by his own daughters and by the storm, fury and violence which he faces of which are too great to bear by the aged king. The Fool only speaks to Lear himself, and his words are generally of a nature to 'rub in' the mistakes of Lear. The sarcastic remarks of the Fool intensify the sufferings of Lear and actually become a contributory cause of his madness. The Fool is essential to Lear's character development. The Fool represents the conscience of Lear, maybe a reason why there is no more of the Fool when Lear loses his mind. The significance and the role of the Fool is not confined to just one objective. Shakespeare uses the Fool for a number of reasons. I will examine the Fool's various

  • Word count: 3027
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

King Lear Coursework Edmund's plot to supplant Edgar and gain his father's inheritance begins in Act 1ii.What is the importance of this scene in the context of the play as a whole

King Lear Coursework Edmund's plot to supplant Edgar and gain his father's inheritance begins in Act 1ii. What is the importance of this scene in the context of the play as a whole? * In a play of immense grandeur, Shakespeare has created within King Lear; a character so depraved that he appears to step beyond the realms of forgiveness. Act 1ii is the keystone of King Lear - its significance and influence radiates throughout the whole of the play. Interwoven with and parallel to the central story line, the subplot is used to enhance and develop the key themes of this tragic masterpiece. The scene also begins the plot to crack the 'bond...'twixt son and father'. Driven by a selfish desire to displace his brother, and through his imperious and cunning performance, Edmund reveals to us a devious nature that we must question: does this Machiavellian malcontent have a worthy motivation? In addition to using Act 1ii as a device for divulging Edmund's intent, we see themes developing that establish themselves as the basis for the play. In this scene, we see Edmund challenging the society and its traditions as he questions his illegitimacy and his social status, 'Why brand they us/ With 'base'?'. His deprivation in society and being seen as lower and inferior to his brother questions the prejudices of society. When speaking to Edgar of his beliefs that 'sons of perfect age'

  • Word count: 1761
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay