Filial Ingratitude, Family Relationships, Age

 Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise - Fool (Act1, Scene 5, line 40)  With age comes wisdom  Parents are looked after by their children  Children rule and lead their parents (Goneril and Regan)  Less responsibilities as you get older

 Has been a successful and powerful king  Because of Lear’s age and experience he should be wise, but his flaw ‘blinds’ him  “If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I’ll have thee beaten for being old before thy time” – Fool (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 40-41)  His daughters believe that Lear is too old  “O, sir, you are old; Nature in you stands on the very verge of his confine. You should be ruled, and led by some discretion that discerns your state. Better than you yourself.” – Regan (Act 2, Scene 4, Line )

 Lear  His three daughters:  Goneril, eldest  Regan, middle  Cordelia, youngest  Gloucester  Edmund, eldest, illegitimate son  Edgar, youngest

Loyalty in Family Relationships  Cordelia, youngest daughter of Lear  “Not blown ambition doth our arms incite, but love, dear love and our father’s right” – Act 4, Scene 4  Edgar,son of Gloucester  Both youngest, “natural” and moral characters, particularly Edgar who is the legitimate son of Gloucester  Follow the natural order and don’t disrupt the chain of being

Betrayal in Family Relationships  Goneril and Regan, the elder daughters of Lear  “Tigers not daughters... A father and a gracious aged man... Have you madded” – Act 4. Scene 2  Love for Lear is treated as material possessions  Shower him with praise for personal gain  Edmund, eldest son of Gloucester  Tricks Gloucester into believing Edgar is the disloyal son  Betrays both his father and brother  “The younger rises when the old doth fall” – Act 3, Scene 3  Both go against nature and natural order  Betray their fathers  Don’t really care for family, only want their power, land, and money “Fathers that wear rags do make their children blind. But fathers that bear bags shall see their children kind”. Fool, Act 2; Scene 4

Setting: Eighth Century B.C.  Children’s Expectations  Respect  Loyalty  Family love  Parent’s Expectations  Respect  Family love

Children  Cordelia and Edgar  The honourable children  Understands and follows expectations  Love and care for their parents as they should  Regan and Goneril  The dishonourable children  Manipulates Lear and then betray him  Don’t look after him  Edmund  Manipulates Gloucester  Disloyal to his brother, Edgar Parents  Lear  Disrespectful of Goneril’s house  Unrealistic ideals of his daughters  Gloucester  Doesn’t trust Edgar for who he is  Takes the word of Edmund  “Loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means to make thee capable” - Act 2, Scene 1