King Lear Albany Quotes

The character of Albany in the play, “King Lear,” changes from the way he appears in the beginning to the way he appears at the end. This change occurs as he demonstrates the characteristics of meekness, courage, and peacemaker. In the beginning of the play, Albany has few speaking lines. In fact, he does not say much until Act IV Scene II. By this time, when he starts to recognize how evil his wife, Goneril, is, he is courageous as he grows more and more disgusted with his wife’s treatment of her father. Even though Goneril had played a man’s role in her actions, Albany becomes “manly” in his courage to challenge Goneril for her actions. Albany says, to his wife, “Look at yourself, you devil! Deformity seems more horrible in a woman that in the devil himself.” Furthermore, he says,
You changed and deceitful monster! For shame, don’t make yourself look even more hideous! If it were proper for me to let these hands act upon their impulses, I would be inclined to tear apart your flesh and bones. Although you are a fiend, your female form protects you.
Albany points out the evil of Goneril and says that he would “tear apart your flesh and bones” but her “female form protects” her. Albany wants nothing more of his wife, Goneril, because she is evil to her …show more content…
In Act I Scene IV, Albany is trying to make peace between King Lear and Goneril, when he says “How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell: Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.” Here, Albany is trying to settle things between the two. In another scene in the play, Albany takes up for Lear when his daughters want to kick him out. He does not understand why they act the way they do towards Lear. At the end of the play, Albany is still a peacemaker. He offers the kingship to Edgar as Albany looks towards the future of the country. Albany strives to get people to act in acceptable