Questions pertaining to King Lear...

1.  What insight are we given to King Lear's character in the opening scene?

     The insight in which we are given to King Lear's character in the opening speeches is that he is a very arrogant man who thinks he is highly favoured by his people. Therefore because of his high status and the attitudes he carries along with it he feels he deserves a great amount of flattery. King Lear also seemed to be a man that did not like to undertake responsibility.

2. Compare the answers of Goneril and Regan to the King's demand to hear their extent of love for him.

    Goneril and Regan knew their father, King Lear. They fully understood his personality traits. Lear knew deep down in his heart that Goneril and Regan did not love him the way Cordelia did. When Lear had demanded for their profession of their love for him he was not keeping that one detail in thought but more of which the daughters would flatter him the most. Therefore the two sisters plot to give Lear exactly what he wanted, that is a high declaration of their love for him. They saw it necessary to get what they wanted from him through any means possible even if it meant that they had to lie to him.     

3. "Be Kent unmannerly" Do you think Kent is justified for saying that Lear is mad?

     Yes, i believe that Kent is justified for saying that King Lear was mad. This is so because Lear had not gotten what he wanted which was an extravagant extent of Cordelia's love for him. In a way, he was not satisfied with her answer and was also very disappointed. Therefore, since he did not get what he wanted, Cordelia wouldn't either.

4.Why do you think Shakespeare has used rhyming lines in Kent's last speech?

   Shakespeare used rhyming lines in Kent's last speech to create emphasis. Rhyming is used to make a point or to signify the importance of the lines mentioned by Kent. Kent also uses this in a way to give an insight of his thoughts to the other characters.

5.Show that the King of France's words to Cordelia are calculated to heal the wounds Lear has inflicted on her.      

   The King of France's words to Cordelia are calculated to heal the wounds Lear has inflicted on her by letting her know that her personality is worth much more than any riches and that he cherishes her. This in a sense comforts him. This is evident when he mentions, "Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor..."

6. What is morally the state of affairs within the play at the close of the first scene?

     The state of affairs morally within the play at the close of the first scene are that Goneril and Regan begin to scheme against their father and earlier on, the King disowns Cordelia which resulted in the King of France taking her instead of the Kind of Burgundy.   

7. Act 1 Scene 2. What sort of excuse does Shakespeare let Edmund make for the course of villainy he is to pursue?

   The excuse in which Shakespeare lets Edmund make for the course of villainy he is about to pursue is the fact that everyone called him a "bastard". This offended him greatly since he was often looked down upon and was also denied his inheritance due to his illegitimacy.

8. How does Edmund strenghten his plot while apparent to defend his brother?

    Edmund strengthens his plot while apparent to defend his brother because this allows him to seem less guilty and suspicious towards his father's beliefs. This gives him the upper hand of his plan being easier to be taken into effect without anyone paying any mind to him and his actions.

9. Show how Glouchester's gullibility and Edgar's nobility plays into Edmund's hand.

    Glouchester's gullibility and Edgar's nobility plays into Edmund's hand by both their personalities making it difficult for them to believe that Edmund was the one who really plotting against them.