King Lear Important Quotes and Summaries
KING LEAR
ACT I
Act I, sc. i: quote: “Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor; Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised!” speaker: King of France to Cordelia analysis: King Lear has disowned his youngest daughter because she did not express in words how much she loved him. When Burgundy and the King of France come to claim her as their love, Lear tells the she is worthless, and ask if they still would want her, Burgundy doesn't but the King of France does.
Act I, sc. ii: quote: “Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law My services are bound. Wherefore should I Stand in the plague of custom, and permit The curiosity of nations to deprive me, For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base? … Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land. Our father’s love is to the bastard Edmund As to the legitimate. Fine word—“legitimate”! Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed, And my invention thrive, Edmund the base Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper. Now, gods, stand up for bastards!” speaker: Edmund soliloquy analysis: Edmund is devising a plan to make his father turn on the true heir of the land, Edgar. He wants the land to himself.
Act I, sc. iv: quote: “I would learn that; for, by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason, I should be false persuaded I had daughters.” speaker: King Lear to Goneril analysis: Lear's daughters are turning against him. He was residing with his daughter Goneril doesn't like the fact the Lear has 100 knights parading around him, that Lear is acting like he is still in charge, though retired, and she makes her thoughts known to him. He can't believe that he thought he had daughters who loved him.
ACT II
Act II, sc. i: quote: “The duke be here to-night? The better! Best! This weaves itself perforce into my business. My father hath set guard to take my brother; And I have one thing, of a queasy
ACT I
Act I, sc. i: quote: “Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor; Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised!” speaker: King of France to Cordelia analysis: King Lear has disowned his youngest daughter because she did not express in words how much she loved him. When Burgundy and the King of France come to claim her as their love, Lear tells the she is worthless, and ask if they still would want her, Burgundy doesn't but the King of France does.
Act I, sc. ii: quote: “Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law My services are bound. Wherefore should I Stand in the plague of custom, and permit The curiosity of nations to deprive me, For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base? … Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land. Our father’s love is to the bastard Edmund As to the legitimate. Fine word—“legitimate”! Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed, And my invention thrive, Edmund the base Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper. Now, gods, stand up for bastards!” speaker: Edmund soliloquy analysis: Edmund is devising a plan to make his father turn on the true heir of the land, Edgar. He wants the land to himself.
Act I, sc. iv: quote: “I would learn that; for, by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason, I should be false persuaded I had daughters.” speaker: King Lear to Goneril analysis: Lear's daughters are turning against him. He was residing with his daughter Goneril doesn't like the fact the Lear has 100 knights parading around him, that Lear is acting like he is still in charge, though retired, and she makes her thoughts known to him. He can't believe that he thought he had daughters who loved him.
ACT II
Act II, sc. i: quote: “The duke be here to-night? The better! Best! This weaves itself perforce into my business. My father hath set guard to take my brother; And I have one thing, of a queasy