KING LEAR
Filial Ingratitude, Family Relationships, Age
THE IDEA OF ‘GROWING OLD’
Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst
been wise - Fool (Act1, Scene 5, line 40)
 With age comes wisdom
 Parents are looked after by their children
 Children rule and lead their parents (Goneril
and Regan)
 Less responsibilities as you get older

LEAR’S EXPERIENCE AND HIS AGE
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Has been a successful and powerful king
Because of Lear’s age and experience he should be
wise, but his flaw ‘blinds’ him
“If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I’ll have thee beaten for
being old before thy time” – Fool (Act 1, Scene 5, Line
40-41)
His daughters believe that Lear is too old
“O, sir, you are old; Nature in you stands on the very
verge of his confine. You should be ruled, and led by
some discretion that discerns your state. Better than
you yourself.” – Regan (Act 2, Scene 4, Line 143-146)
RELATIONSHIPS

Lear
 His
three daughters:
 Goneril, eldest
 Regan, middle
 Cordelia, youngest

Gloucester


Edmund, eldest, illegitimate son
Edgar, youngest
DISCUSS HOW FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS ARE
PORTRAYED IN THE PLAY
Loyalty in Family Relationships
 Cordelia, youngest daughter of Lear
 “Not blown ambition doth our arms incite, but love, dear
love and our father’s right” – Act 4, Scene 4
 Edgar ,son of Gloucester
 Both youngest, “natural” and moral characters,
particularly Edgar who is the legitimate son of Gloucester
 Follow the natural order and don’t disrupt the chain of
being
DISCUSS HOW FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS ARE
PORTRAYED IN THE PLAY
Betrayal in Family Relationships
 Goneril and Regan, the elder daughters of Lear
 “Tigers not daughters... A father and a gracious aged man... Have you madded”
– Act 4. Scene 2
 Love for Lear is treated as material possessions
 Shower him with praise for personal gain
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Edmund, eldest son of Gloucester
Tricks Gloucester into believing Edgar is the disloyal son
Betrays both his father and brother
“The younger rises when the old doth fall” – Act 3, Scene 3
Both go against nature and natural order
Betray their fathers
Don’t really care for family, only want their power, land, and money “Fathers that
wear rags do make their children blind. But fathers that bear bags shall see
their children kind”. Fool, Act 2; Scene 4
EXPECTATIONS
Setting: Eighth Century B.C.
 Children’s Expectations
 Respect
 Loyalty
 Family

love
Parent’s Expectations
 Respect
 Family
love
EXPECTATIONS AND THE CHARACTERS
Children

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Cordelia and Edgar
 The honourable children
 Understands and follows
expectations
 Love and care for their parents
as they should
Regan and Goneril
 The dishonourable children
 Manipulates Lear and then
betray him
 Don’t look after him
Edmund
 Manipulates Gloucester
 Disloyal to his brother, Edgar
Parents

Lear
 Disrespectful of Goneril’s
house
 Unrealistic ideals of his
daughters

Gloucester
 Doesn’t trust Edgar for who
he is
 Takes the word of Edmund
 “Loyal and natural boy, I’ll
work the means to make
thee capable” - Act 2, Scene
1