By:
Tia, Nick, Hannah, Kaylie and Whitney
Theme
 If evil isn’t recognized, then good cannot be
appreciated.
ACT I
“I return those duties back as are right fit, Obey you, love you, and most
honor you. Why have my sisters husbands, if they say they love you
all?”
(Cordelia, Act III. i, 98-102)
“Sure I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all.”
(Cordelia, Act III. i, 105-106)
Mabillard, Amanda. 2012.
www.shakesspeare-online.com. Photo. 29
April 2014.
ACT I Explanation
 Setting: They are in the Lear castle and at this time
King Lear and his wife have asked his daughters to
profess their love for him, in order to receive part of
the kingdom.
 When Cordelia tells her father the truth about how she
feels toward him, telling him that he is just a father to
her and no more. And then when Regan and Goneril
profess unnatural love for their father, King Lear only
sees the lies that they are telling, he cannot see the
good that Cordelia is.
ACT II
“I return those duties back as are right fit, Obey you, love
you, and most honor you. Why have my sisters husbands, if
they say they love you all?”
(Cordelia, Act III. i, 98-102)
“Sure I shall never marry like my sisters husbands, To love
my father all.”
(Cordelia, Act III. i, 105-106)
ACT II Explanation
 Setting: Edmund tells Edgar that his Father is angry
with him. He tells him to run to his house but always
stays protected with his sword. When Edgar leaves the
room, Edmund cuts his arm and pretends that it was
Edgar’s fault.
 Edgar doesn’t understand what Edmund is trying to do
to him, by blaming everything on him and telling
everyone that Edgar wants to kill their Father,
Gloucester. Therefore, Gloucester cannot see the evil
in Edmund, ao he cannot recognize the good in Edgar.
ACT III
“Cornwall: See’t shalt though never. Fellows, hold the chair. Upon these eyes of
thine I’ll set my foot.
Gloucester: He that will think to live till he be old, give me some help. – O
cruel! O you gods!
Regan: One side will mock another. Th’ other too.”
(Cornwall, Gloucester & Regan, Act III. Vii, 66-72)
Rose, Miranda. 2006. Creation
Theatre, U.K. www.dailyinfo.Photo.
29 April 2014.
ACT III Explanation
 Setting: Gloucester has just gotten his eyes ripped out,
by Cornwall.
 After Gloucester loses his eyes he can finally see theat
Edmund is evil. And that they have both wronged
Edgar.
ACT IV
“O Goneril! You are not worth the dust which the rude wind blows in your face.
I fear your disposition: That nature which contemns its origin cannot be
bordered certain in itself; She that herself will sliver and disbranch from her
material sap, perforce must writher and come to deadly use.”
(Albany, Act IV. ii, 29-36)
“Because I would not see thy cruèl nails pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy
fierce sister in his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. The sea, with such a storm
as his bare head in hell-black night endured, would have buoyed up, and
quenched the stellèd fires. Yet poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain. If
wolves had at thy gate howled that stern time, thou shouldst have said, good
porter, turn the key, all cruèls else subscribed. But I shall see the wingèd
vengeance overtake such children. ”
(Gloucester, ACT IV. vii, 57-67)
ACT IV Explanation
 Setting: Goneril and Albany are fighting because
Goneril allowed Regan and Cornwall to rip
Gloucester’s eyes out.
 Albany is finally showing his good side by displaying
his loyalty towards King Lear. And Goneril is showing
her true colors, by allowing Gloucester’s eyes to be
ripped out.
ACT V
 “I pant for my life: some good I mean to do, Despite of mine own
nature. Quickly send, Be brief in it, to th’ castle; for my writ is on the
life of Lear and on Cordelia: Nay, send in time.”
(Edmund, Act V. iii, 245-249)
 “He hath commission from thy wife and me to hang Cordelia in the
prison, and to lay the blame upon her own despair, that she forbid
(destroy) herself.”
(Edmund, Act V, iii, 254-257)
Abrams, Dennis.
Theplayingblog.wordpress.com,
Photo. 29 April 2014.
ACT V Explanation
 Setting: Cordelia and King Lear has been sentenced to
death, and while Edmund is on his “death bed” he
confesses to having King Lear and Cordelia sentenced
to death.
 Edmund’s evil nature is poisonous to the point that it
crosses plot lines and destroys Cordelia and her good
nature.