KEY:
● BLUE = theme
● PINK = context
● PURPLE = critic
Explore Shakespeare’s presentation of kingship in King Lear. You must relate your
discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading
Context: The doctrine of the divine right of kings stated that a monarch’s authority derived from God,
therefore making his power undisputed + completely absolute
INTRO: Shakespeare uses kingship in order to highlight how it is both abused + positively utilised by
characters in the play. Unlike Lear, who is rendered unable to effectively wield his kingship over his
subjects, Goneril and Reagan manipulate + abuse the concept of kingship in order to further their own
personal agendas. However, characters such as Edgar, aim to harness the good qualities of kingship in
order to restore monarchical order.
PARAGRAPH 1: Shakespeare uses kingship to highlight how Lear exercises his power as a way to
manipulate his daughters and subjects, however this inevitably becomes his downfall.
Quotes:
“We shall express a darker purpose.” (Lear) = use of royal “we” suggests Lear’s delusion + how he is
blinded by his kingly ego Shupack: “a king’s right to rule depended on the quality of his kingship.”
Lear’s use of imperatives, “Speak first”, “Mend your speech a little…”
Kent’s observation, “When power to flattery bows?” = the trivial priorities of Lear + his kingdom
Lear’s naivety, evident when he bursts out childishly that a Regan has a “kind heart” + not Goneril
Lear physically strips himself during the storm = stripping his appearance + royal title - becomes one w/
nature, Ingham: ‘Lear’s madness can be seen both as a result of his arrogance and as a remedy for it.
PARAGRAPH 2: Similarly, Goneril + Regan also abuse the idea of kingship in order to further their
own individual agendas
Quotes:
Goneril says how she is not to be “over-rul’d”
“Tis politic and safe to keep him a hundred knights…” (Goneril)
In Renaissance Europe, women did not have independent property rights and were financially at the
mercy of men. Therefore it is understandable that Goneril may feel threatened at the presence of Lear
and his knights.
Goneril commands to Albany that he must “hand the distaff” to her
The aggressive behaviour and merciless nature of both sisters during Gloucester’s blinding, “pluck ye
eyes out” - unwavering, brutal
Atherton: Both Goneril + Regan are “guilty of wanting more than they are truly entitled to.”
McLaughlin: The sisters’ infatuation w/ Edmund, is a symptom of the masculine protest.”
PARAGRAPH 3: Shakespeare uses kingship to highlight how characters such as Edgar, in
contrast to G + R, adopt the good qualities of kingship, thru aiding Lear + his father, + in turn, is
able to restore monarchical order
Quotes:
When Gloucester wants to die, Edgar proclaims that “Ripeness is all” + instils hope into him
Edgar’s transition into Poor Tom, “Edgar nothing I am.” = the humble and more personal use of the
pronoun ‘I’, contrasts Lear’s ‘we’
, Edgar’s advises to “obey thy parents” - fulfils the Jacobean adherence to 5th commandment - further
reinforced in his confrontation w/ Edmund, who has ultimately disturbed the peace + natural order, “False
to thy gods, thy brother and thy father.”
Storozynsky: argues that Lear, as opposed to Edgar, is entirely out of control
Explore Shakespeare’s presentation of disguise in King Lear. You must relate your
discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas from your critical reading
CONTEXT: Deception was arguably a way of life for those in Elizabethan society, particularly following
Elizabeth + her enforcement of Protestantism during her reign, leaving many Catholics having to disguise
their true beliefs.
INTRO: Shakespeare presents disguise as a way for characters to gain control and influence over others.
This can be explored through the characters of Kent + Edgar, who both utilise their respective disguises
as ‘advisor’ and madman in order to positively influence Lear. However, other characters such as
Edmund, manipulate disguise in order to further his own personal agenda.
PARAGRAPH 1: Kent uses disguise to aid the king by posing as his ‘advisor’ in attempts to
influence him positively
Quotes:
Kent’s willingness to sacrifice his position in attempts to save the situation, when he confronts Lear,
“...Reverse thy doom…” tells him to “see better”
“Come help to bear, thy master” = the gentle nature + tone of his words contrasts his previous use of
imperatives - inner authority, used to controlling + ordering everyone as a result of his previous position
among nobility
Maclean: Kent “expects to further in this way an eventual recovery of position and respect.”
Shupack: “a king’s right to rule depended on the quality of his kingship.”
Ingham: ‘Lear’s madness can be seen both as a result of his arrogance and as a remedy for it.
PARAGRAPH 2: Edgar also utilises disguise, initially to further his own agenda by escaping,
however he eventually influences Lear thru his disguise as a madman + aids him to the end.
Quotes:
change in status from nobility to mentally unstable, which also allows him to understand his own suffering,
“who alone suffers, suffers most i’th’ mind.” (contrasts Jacobean view of isolation as a cure for mental
illness) - repetition of “suffers” emphasises how immense suffering in isolation can be
Edgar’s disguise also aids Lear + his own situation, helps him to gain clarity, evident when Edgar helps
Lear to recognise + understand the flaws in his kingship, “Who gives anything to Poor Tom…”
Lear refers to Edgar as “philosopher” highlights the highest point of Lear’s clarity, as he tries to empathise
+ connect w/ those of the lower class.
Similarly, Edgar also utilises his disguise to help his father, instils hope into him by encouraging that
“Ripeness is all”
Edgar brings attention to the bedlam beggars, and beggars in general who were severely shunned from
society
Foakes: Edgar “brings Lear and Gloucester to a new moral consciousness, and as a force of good
overcoming evil in battle”
Woods: “If madness involves a loss of self as identity becomes incoherent, Edgar's disguise is a form of
madness”
