King Lear: Act 1 & 2

1.1.35-53

In this speech, King Lear reveals his intentions on dividing his estate amongst his three daughters. In order to do so, he has required each daughter to express how much they love their father. Each daughter and her respective husband are to receive their portion of the kingdom depending on the eloquence of their answer.

1.1.109-41

In this speech, King Lear is dismayed and angered at his youngest daughter, Cordelia’s response, rather lack thereof. He swears by the gods that he disowns her in every aspect and that she is no longer his daughter. He goes on to debase her by comparing her to classical barbarians.

1.1.175-87

In this speech, infuriated by Kent’s defense of Cordelia, banishes him inside of the kingdom. He has six days to leave and if he still present during the 10^th day, he is to be executed. King Lear once again swears by celestial beings that this decree shall not be revoked.

In the second speech, King Lear appears to be shocked, then outraged at Cordelia’s response towards his request. He references the classical goddess, Hecate, as if to enhance the seriousness of his declaration. He states in lines 111-12, “By all the operation of the orbs from whom we do exist and cease to be,…”It is as if by swearing by entities of an higher being, it makes his words irrevocable. He goes on to disown Cordelia of all rights, listing them in an almost-brisk, business-like manner as if their relationship was a contractual agreement. Then, once again he mentions another classical figure, but this time to disgrace her. He says that this barbarous Scythian, one that devours his own parents, means as much to him as his former daughter. Using this particular analogy implies that Cordelia herself is destroying her father by avoiding his wishes. It expresses his deep hurt as well has bitterness towards her actions.

 

The soliloquy that Edmund begins with in Act 1, Scene 2 alerts the reader to several things. First we see a true frustration with him being identified as illegitimate or bastard. He feels that is wrong for him to be deprived of his father’s estate merely because his is younger than his brother, whose mother happened to be married to his father. He argues that he has just as many qualities as his brother, therefore he deserves just as much as him. We also see his plans for deception at the expense of his brother. He intends to steal his brother’s right to land and by doing so, the bastard will rise above what is considered as legitimate. This soliloquy is important because it reveals Edmund’s motive for his upcoming deception and it also warns the audience of the trouble he is about to cause. We now know that Edmund intends on deceiving both his father and brother to gain what he feel is rightfully his.