From the very beginning of the play, King Lear, by William Shakespeare, it is quite apparent that the king of Britain is slowly becoming mad, yet is still very powerful. It becomes clear that he is no longer his moderately sane self, as he becomes extremely angry and irritated at his daughters, and makes many irrational decisions, which in turn causes the whole kingdom to turn into a disaster. Alongside Lear, Edmund, Gloucester’s illegitimate son, demonstrates sanity and intelligence, yet devises a plot against his family, which indicates a notion of evil. While comparing quotes from both Lear and Edmund, the quotes demonstrate how the function of language can indicate the true personality of the character. These quotes reveal truly who the
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Lear becoming angry at Gonoril connects to other parts of the play in more ways than one. Specifically, as Lear grows older, he seems to be becoming less sane, which is noted by Gonoril in the quote “The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash; then must we look to receive from his age not alone the imperfection of long-engrafted condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them” (1.284-288). Additionally, in this quote, it indicates Gonoril’s desires to betray Lear and wants all the power for herself. This proves how the king was correct in assuming Gonoril is both a terrible person and daughter. Moreover, a way in which Edmund’s quote connects to the rest of the play is that Edmund very much follows through on his plans on getting revenge on his brother, and consequently his father as well. He betrays his brother by falsely accusing him, shown in the quote “Sir, in fine, /Seeing how loathly opposite I stood/To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion, /With his preparèd sword he charges home/My unprovided body, lanced mine arm” (6.47-51). And he betrays his father by revealing to Cornwall that Gloucester had known about an impending attack from France, and yet kept it a secret. This causes Gloucester to have his eyes gauged out, all because of
Lear becoming angry at Gonoril connects to other parts of the play in more ways than one. Specifically, as Lear grows older, he seems to be becoming less sane, which is noted by Gonoril in the quote “The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash; then must we look to receive from his age not alone the imperfection of long-engrafted condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them” (1.284-288). Additionally, in this quote, it indicates Gonoril’s desires to betray Lear and wants all the power for herself. This proves how the king was correct in assuming Gonoril is both a terrible person and daughter. Moreover, a way in which Edmund’s quote connects to the rest of the play is that Edmund very much follows through on his plans on getting revenge on his brother, and consequently his father as well. He betrays his brother by falsely accusing him, shown in the quote “Sir, in fine, /Seeing how loathly opposite I stood/To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion, /With his preparèd sword he charges home/My unprovided body, lanced mine arm” (6.47-51). And he betrays his father by revealing to Cornwall that Gloucester had known about an impending attack from France, and yet kept it a secret. This causes Gloucester to have his eyes gauged out, all because of