King Lear Quotes Flashcards

Gloucester: Shows a lack of regret regarding the conception of Edmund, indicating themes of illegitimacy and parental acknowledgment.
Lear: His decision to divide the kingdom based on flattery reveals his vanity and leads to familial conflict.
Cordelia: Represents integrity and loyalty, as she refuses to engage in deceitful flattery despite her father's expectations.

Flattery vs. Honesty: Lear's preference for flattery leads to detrimental choices, contrasting with Cordelia's sincerity.
Illegitimacy and Identity: Edmund's struggle against societal norms attached to his birth raises questions about legitimacy and worth.
Power and Betrayal: Lear's banishment of loyal subjects like Kent showcases the fragility of power and the danger of misplaced trust.

"Though this knave came something saucily...": Highlights Gloucester's acceptance of Edmund's birth, setting the stage for Edmund's ambitions.
"We have divided / In three our kingdom...": Introduces Lear's flawed decision-making, echoing larger political themes.
"Love, / and be silent.": Cordelia's refusal to flatter indicates her depth of character and foreshadows future conflict.
"Let it be so: thy truth then be thy dow'r!": Lear's mocking dismissal of Cordelia emphasizes his irrationality and emotional instability.

Cordelia: Her integrity paves the way for tragedy, reflecting on the harsh realities of love and parental expectations.
Regan and Goneril: Their ambition and lack of morality signal a shift in power dynamics, suggesting future treachery.
Edmund: His soliloquies reveal his resentment toward societal constraints and foreshadow his manipulative nature.

"Such unconstant starts are we like to have...": Regan's insight into Lear's unpredictable behavior hints at chaos within the kingdom.
"Not all the dukes of wat'rish Burgundy...": The King of France recognizes Cordelia's intrinsic worth, contrasting with Lear's materialistic values.

The interplay of flattery, identity, and betrayal in these quotes captures the complex dynamics at play in King Lear, foreshadowing the tragedy that ensues from the characters' choices and relationships.