King Lear :Triangles Seminar

By: Alyssa, Emily, Ryan, Alicia & Scott

Ms. PattersonENG4U1

October 17th, 2012.

Triangle #1Edmund

Regan Goneril

LOVE TRIANGLE

Goneril and Regan by Edwin Austin Abbey

Background/TimelineEdmund and Goneril travel together

Goneril falls in love with Edmund: gives him a ‘favour’

After Cornwall dies,Regan wants to marry Edmund

Goneril is jealous of Regan: poisons her

Goneril kills herself

Motives: POWER

Edmund: Power & Political Gain Wants to marry a ruler of Briton

Goneril: Loss of Love & PowerNo longer cares for Albany, knows Edmund is a powerful person

Regan: Reinsertion of PowerAfter Cornwall dies, needs to find a husband to remain powerful

EdmundBecomes all-powerful over Goneril and Regan shows he is self-centred

Enjoys manipulating them (does not love them)

Hopes to become all-powerful over Briton, but fails

“To both these sisters have I sworn my love; / Each jealous of the other, as the stung / Are of the adder.” (V, ii, 55)

Goneril

Albany refuses to fight the French

Goneril views him as weak

Wishes to be with a more powerful person

Suggests that Edmund kill Albany so they can be together

“It is the cowish terror of his spirit, / That dares not undertake.” (IV, ii, 12)

ReganCornwall dies, so she loses her half of the kingdom

Needs to marry someone else to regain power

Edmund is powerful, so he is suitable

Mutually beneficial for Edmund

“Edmund and I have talked; / And more convenient is he for my hand / Than for your lady’s.” (IV, v, 31)

Relation to Plot, Character & Theme

• Tension (conflict) caused between Goneril and Regan

• Leads Goneril to poison Regan and kill herself

• These relationships demonstrate the need for power

Triangle #2 Cordelia

Goneril Regan

THE THREE

SISTERSCordelia, Regan, and Goneril

Connections

King Lear

Intuition / objectives

family-related

Motives

Different motives, same target

Different approach

Actions and motivations allows the theme to develop and become more complex

Cordelia

Truly loves Lear- despises others for their acts

Able to see past the mask of greed

Intuitions and wisdom is what allows her to become more successful (Queen of France)

Goneril & ReganDeceiving, liars- want father’s gold and power

Depend on each other to survive in this ‘game’

Not trust worthy ( turn on each other)

Always felt on the lesser hand of their father that affected their relationship

RelationshipsThe naive, the destructive (2), and the wise one

Complicated, interesting… distressed

• (relationship, plot, character development)

“The unbalanced relationship” allows the theme and plot to develop unfortunately

PatternsWhen deceived by daughters, Lear always refers to weather or higher power:

• Rumble thy bellyful! Spit fire, spout rain!/ Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters:/ I tax you not, you elements, with unkindness./ I never gave you kingdom, called you children,/ you owe me no subscription… O ho, ‘tis foul! (III,ii,14)

Cordelia -loyal

Goneril and Regan- consistent in deceiving

Triangle #3 Cordelia

Edgar Kent

THE BANISHED Kent, Cordelia, King Lear, and Edgar

Background

All banished

Share a loyalty towards King Lear

Want to reinstate the king’s power, even though they have no influence

Motives

Trying to help the king: leads to their exile

Want the best for the kingdom: honest and well-intentioned

Connections

All banished from their own homes

Were misunderstood

Good get banished, overwhelming source of evil remains

Relation to Themes

Edgar becomes Poor Tom, and becomes wise: you must be a fool to be wise

Cordelia has nothing when she is banished, but gains everything when she King of France: nothing is everything

Loyalty grows stronger even through betrayal

Kent• Foolishly loyal to King Lear• Comes back from banishment to

continue to monitor the King•  “Now, banish'd Kent,

If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn'd,So may it come, thy master, whom thou lovest,Shall find thee full of labours.”(I,iv, 4)

Edgar• Power will be granted to those that

deserve it the most• After becoming Poor Tom, Edgar is

empowered by the new found wisdom• Poor Tom and Edgar create a new Edgar

which is superior to Edmund• “The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices

Make instruments to plague us:The dark and vicious place where thee he gotCost him his eyes.” (V,iii,171)

Cordelia• Cordelia has honest intentions • Her love for her father is

unmatched by that of her sisters• All that she does as the Queen of

France was for King Lear• “Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

My heart into my mouth: I love your majestyAccording to my bond; no more nor less.” (I,i, 91)

Triangle #4The Fool

Edgar Kent

THEDISGUISED

Kent, Edgar, King Lear, and the Fool

Connections•Each hold good morals, and want what is best for the kingdom.

•Each are positive male examples that play virtuous roles in the play.

•Only when disguised can they enlighten others of the truth around them.

DisguisesIntellectual Wiseman >>> The Fool [Artificial Fool]

Nobleman Kent >>> The Peasant Caius

• [Loyal to Lear]

Legitimate Edgar >>> Poor Beggar Tom

• [Son of Gloucester]

Patterns•Each man is loyal to their master.-Fool and Kent loyal to Lear

-Edgar loyal to Gloucester

•While disguised, they provide insightful information about the truth.-Fool remains disguised and wise throughout the play, and sees the truth in Regan and Goneril

-Kent becomes disguised as Caius, and sees the truth in the King’s intentions and actions.

-Edgar disguises himself as Poor Tom, and becomes enlightened; he discovers that Edmund is evil.

Triangle #5Gloucester

Edgar Edmund

THESUB-PLOT

Gloucester and Edgar

Background

Father and two sons

Legitimate son vs. bastard

Resentment

Motives

GloucesterTreatment of EdmundFinding EdgarRealization of the truth

Edgar Heir to the throneMadness

EdmundJealousyPower and Respect

Connections

Family Relationship

Reversal of Personality

Illusion vs. Reality

Parallel to Lear’s triangle (the Three Sisters)

Bibliography