Act 3 Scene 6- 3 madmen and Kent...poor sane Kent
SETTING:
Farmhouse at Gloucester's
SUMMARY:
Gloucester and co. arrive at barn and Gloucester leaves to find a safer place.
Fool (madman 1) worried about the madness from Poor Tom (madman 2).
Lear (madman 3) starts a mock trial for daughters even though everyone is wanting to sleep- especially Kent (sane man 1)
Gloucester suggests going to Dover where Cordelia is.
Last appearance of fool...
KEY THEMES:
Madness
Justice
Loyalty
Family Relationships
CONTEXT
Anatomy being a new fascination
Ideas of Justice?
KEY QUOTES:
• 'He childed as I fathered! Tom away!' Edgar pg.155 line 109 AGE/FAMILY
• 'When we our betters see bearing our woes,/ We scarcely think our miseries our foes' Lear pg.155 line 101-102 POWER/FATE
• 'We'll go to supper i'th'morning... And I'll go to bed at noon' Lear and fool (fool's last line) pg. 153 lines 83-84
• 'Then let me anatomize Regan' Lear pg. 153 line 75
Note: This scene is quite hectic but has some really important parts of it. The court trial is significant- why do you think Lear makes a mock trial? Could it be to show the ludicrousy of him trying to take power from the Gods (the divine justicers)?
Also look carefully at the fool here, as this is his last appearance. Has he changed? Why does he dissapear? Did he die?
Finally have full appreciation of 1) Edgar who realises a universal truth.... there's always someone worse off than you. And ever loyal, ever persistant Kent who is literally surrounded by chaos... you got to feel for the guy.
p.s Look up the comic of this scene from 'Good tickle brain' website. Ot really sums up th situation quite well.
YOU ARE READING
The Discombobulated Guide to King Lear
Non-FictionAnyone else trying to wade through English Literature books?? Join the club! Although I love English Literature one does have to keep the passion alive and therefore during my exams I got a couple of ways of making it fun and decided to share with y...
