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Summary King Lear Act 5
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These notes include quotes, context and analysis of all scenes in act 5 of King Lear. The notes come from a variety of sources and got me an A in A-Level English literature!
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King Lear
Act 5 Scene 1
- The plot advances as Albany is informed by Edgar of the plot to kill him
- Regan’s cross examination of Edmund and the sexual euphemism, “have you never
found my brother’s way/ To the for-fended place?” suggests the sexual jealousy of
Regan, who is presented as the subversion of woman hood. (man-like in her
forwrdness)
- Although Albany is loyal to Lear, he is still willing to fight in the French invasion, “It
touches us, as France invades our land.” The equivocation and vacillating loyalties
of Albany suggests the chaos that has ensued from Lear’s error of judgement.
Albany also emphasises Lear’s failing through the suggestion of the failings of the
power sharing arrangement, “the rigour of our state / Forc’d to cry out”
- The battle between Edgar and Edmund, “I can produce a champion” is a symbolic
battle between good and evil
- Edmund’s soliloquy further complicates the rivalry of Goneril and Regan. There is a
greater sense of foreboding from the sexual rivalry than there is from the impending
battle.
- Edmund’s sardonic mockery of the sexual rivalry between Goneril and Regan is
emphasised through the snake analogy/ simile, “Each jealous of the other, as the
stung / Are of the adder.” The snake symbol is associated with the Edenic myth and
suggests the evil subversive nature of Goneril and Regan
- The rhetorical question, “Both? One? Or neither? Presents the odious, self-seeking
nature of Edmund, who is prepared to exploit the sexual desires of Goneril and
Regan
- The ominous use of negatives, “neither can be enjoyed / If both remain alive”
suggests the untenable nature of the situation and the extreme ambition of
Edmund. The natural order is subverted as there is a possibility that an illegitimate
son could gain control of England. Edmund’s manipulation and exploitation of the
situation suggests a lack of genuine love for either Goneril or Regan
- The vacillating fortunes of Lear are emphasised, “they within our power / Shall
never see his pardon” as Edmund is intent on causing harm to Lear and Cordelia
Act 5 Scene 2
- The battle scene is given cursory treatment and is suggested by the staging, “Enter
with drum and colours.” Lear and Cordelia’s entrance creates tension and suspense,
as in the next scene they will enter as prisoners.
- Just as the battle is given cursory treatment, the result of the battle is also treated
economically, “King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta’en.”
- The clipped, blunt, monosyllabic line, “ a man may rot even here” creates a defeat
tone and suggests Gloucester’s despair at Lear’s defeat. There are Christian
underpinnings in the play as in Christian doctrine we are taught to accept suffering
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