King Lear Structure, characters, and themes

King Lear ReganGonerilCordelia AlbanyCornwallFrance

King Lear Characters Main Plot Primary -- dynamic –Protagonist, changes through play Lear –Antagonist, character revealed Goneril, Regan Secondary -- static –Reflection characters Cordelia, Kent, Fool, France

King Lear Characters Sub Plot Good –Gloucester, Edgar Evil –Edmund –Reflection characters Oswald, Albany, Cornwall, servant to Cornwall

King Lear Foils Character foiling –Lear and Gloucester –Cordelia and Edgar –Goneril/Regan and Edmund

King Lear Themes Parent/child relationship Flattery Madness Judgment Appearance vs. reality world view of Renaissance Christian Humanist and Machiavellian

King Lear Motifs and Imagery Motifs –Seeing –Judging –Flattery –“the worst” –“unaccomodated man” –Patience –nothing Imagery –Insults –Foul fiend, madness –Swearing by Gods –Astrology

The End