Questions on "King Lear" for September 26th

Why does Lear demand a public declaration of affection from his daughters before dividing his kingdom?

Why does Cordelia refuse to play along with her father's game?

When Gloucester attempts suicide, why does Edgar decline to reveal his true identity (Act IV, Scene Six)?

What is Lear's attraction to the "philosopher," Tom O'Bedlam? (Act III, Scene Four, pp. 175-177, Act III, Scene Six, pages 178-80)?

Why do Goneril and Regan end up in fatal competition for Edmund?

Does "King Lear" suggest that human sexuality is the root cause of all corruption?


Evaluative Questions

In Act III, Scene One, How does the storm in the open country mirror the king's emotional state?

What is the significance of the word "nothing" in the play (it appears in many places, cf. Act I, Scenes One and Two.)

What is the meaning of Edgar's lines:

Men must endure
Their going hence, even as their coming hither;
Ripeness is all

Is it possible to envisage an alternative, happy, ending to the play?

If no, is the ending the best one could hope for? Is Edgar going to be King? Will he be a better King than Lear?



Passages for Textual Analysis

A. Act I, Scene Two, pages 129-130, from Gloucester's speech beginning, "These late eclipses in the sun and moon ..." to Edmund's speech ending, "O, these eclipses do portend these divisions, Fa, sol, la, mi."

B. Compare the Fool's speeches,

1. Act I, Scene Four, pages 136-137 beginning, "That lord that counsell'd thee ..." to "All thy other titles thou has given away; that thou wast born with."

2. Act II, Scene Four, page 157 beginning, "Fathers that wear rags ..." to "daughters as thou canst tell in a year."

3. Act II, Scene Four, pages 157-58, beginning, "We'll set thee to school to an ant ..." to "Not 'i the stocks, fool."

4. Act III, Scene Two, page 168, beginning, "the cod-piece that will house ... " to "For there was never yet fair woman but she made mouths in a glass."

5. Act III, Scene Two, page 170 beginning, "He that has and a little tiny wit ..." to "This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live before his time."

C. Act IV, Scene Six, pages 200-203 from Lear's speech beginning, "Ha, Goneril, with a white beard," to Lear's speech ending, "you shall get it by running, Sa, Sa, Sa, Sa.

D. Act V, Scene Three, pages 213-214, from Lear's speech beginning, "No, no, no, no! Come let's away to prison." to Lear's speech ending, "We'll see 'em starv'd first. Come."