Act 1 scene 1
1) What insight are we given into King Lear's character in the opening speeches?
In the opening speeches, we see that King Lear seems to be tired of owning the large kingdom and realizes that since he is getting old, he should split the kingdom among his three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. It also seems like the King is getting a bit foolish and not wiser with age, since he is dividing his kingdom and believes that even though different parts of the kingdom will be in his daughter's hands he will still have authority over it. Lear believes that because he will still have the title of King he still has some sort of authority, when in truth that is not so, since he gave up his kingdom and his crown to his daughters and their husbands. Furthermore, King Lear seems to be a person who rather be flattered by nice words than realize the true feelings his daughters have for him instead of all the lies and "sucking up". His trait of being rather irrational also ties into him being rather full of himself since he disowns Cordelia just because she could not put her feelings into words and over exaggerate like her sisters did.
2) Compare the answers of Goneril and Regan to the King's demand to hear the extent of their love.
In Goneril's speech, she seemed to have been saying a lot of meaningful things and expressing her love for her father by embellishing on her love a bit too much just so that she could win the largest gift - a larger portion of the kingdom-from her father. Similarly, Regan's speech overly exaggerrated her love for her father as well, but she tried to out do her sister Goneril in the process. Regan did this by saying that her sister said everything she would have said but she fell short of the truth, and further claims that King Lear;s love makes her happy. Thus trying to say that her love for her father surpasses Goneril's love for him.
3) " Be Kent unmannerly when Lear is mad"
Do you think that Kent is justified in saying that Lear is mad (crazy)?
Yes i do believe that Kent is justified in saying that Lear is going mad. This is because King Lear is giving away his kingdom to his eldest daughter's who don't even love them as much as they are claiming to, but rather they only want the kingdom for themselves and seek to take advantage of their fathers age, sicne they believe he is getting older and not wiser but foolish. King Lear clearly does not know the consequences of his actions at this point, due to him being too upset and disappointed with Cordelia.
4) Why do you think Shakespeare has used rhyming lines in Kent's last speech?
I think that Shakespeare used rhyming lines in Ken't last speech so that the meaning of the speech could be enhanced and the words would catch everyone's attention as Kent was saying them. For his speech was one that should have been listened to and not just heard by all three sisters and King Lear.
5) Show that the King of France's words to Cordelia are calculated to heal the wounds that Lear has inflicted on her.
It is evident that the King of France's words to Cordelia have meant to heal the wounds of her father's words by merely listening to the speeches that he gave through out Act 1 scene 1. Here France says, " Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor, Most choice forsaken, and most loved despised," which means that France believes Cordelia to be all the richer now that she is poor, more valuable now that she is rejected, and more loved now that she is hated. He further states that he will take her for her virtues, and that it is strange that in neglecting you, the Gods have made him love her dearly. France seems to be trying to make Cordelia feel a bit better by not saying lies or things that she would like to hear, but rather telling her the truth and what deserves to be said about her and her truthful actions.
6) What is morally the state affairs within the play at the close of the 1st scene?
The state affairs within the play at the close of the 1st scene is that Cordelia ends up going away with the King of France instead of the King of Burgundy and the King has disowned Cordelia for good because of her not being able to express her love for him the way he would have hoped her to. In addition, the very last few speeche of Act 1 scene 1 were spoken by Goneril and Regan, where it seems like they have caught on to King Lear's senile and confused behaviour. As a result, the sister's seem to have a plan up their sleeve and intend to strike while the iron is hot.
Act 1 scene 2
1) What sort of excuse does shakespeare let Edmund make for the course he is willing to pursue?
The excuse Shakespeare lets Edmund make for the course he is willing to pursue is that he should be not be deprived of his rights just because he was born after his brother Edgar. Even thought they call him "bastard" and "lowlife", he argues that he is just as gifted in mind and body as legitimate children, and that their father loves him just as much as he loves Edgar.
2)How does Edmund strengthen his plot by appearing to defend his brother?
Edmund strengthens his plot by appearing to defend his brother where he makes it seem as though he is on his brother's side, when in truth he is the vllian setting him up instead. That way, Gloucester would not think or even consider Edmund to have anything to do with it, thus making him think the letter and everything Edmund is saying is true.
3) Show how the Gloucester's gullibility and Edgar's nobility plays into Edmund's hand.
Gloucester's gullibility plays quite well into Edmund's hand throughout this scene because he seems to believe every word that that Edmund is saying and even though he questions the handwritting of the letter , Edmund answers him in such a way that Gloucester's gullibility brings him back in. When it comes to his brother Edgar,his nobility plays into Edmund's hand as well as his father's gullibility does, for Edgar seems to be so innocent that he can't suspect anyone as close as his brother would try or want to hurt him and thus thinks that Endmund is trying to help him instead. This is made eveident when Edmund says to himself, "A credulous father, and a brother noble—Whose nature is so far from doing harms that he suspects none."
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