By: Tia, Nick, Hannah, Kaylie and Whitney

Theme If evil isn’t recognized, then good cannot be appreciated.

ACT I “I return those duties back as are right fit, Obey you, love you, and most honor you. Why have my sisters husbands, if they say they love you all?” (Cordelia, Act III. i, ) “Sure I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all.” (Cordelia, Act III. i, ) Mabillard, Amanda Photo. 29 April 2014.

ACT I Explanation Setting: They are in the Lear castle and at this time King Lear and his wife have asked his daughters to profess their love for him, in order to receive part of the kingdom. When Cordelia tells her father the truth about how she feels toward him, telling him that he is just a father to her and no more. And then when Regan and Goneril profess unnatural love for their father, King Lear only sees the lies that they are telling, he cannot see the good that Cordelia is.

ACT II “I return those duties back as are right fit, Obey you, love you, and most honor you. Why have my sisters husbands, if they say they love you all?” (Cordelia, Act III. i, ) “Sure I shall never marry like my sisters husbands, To love my father all.” (Cordelia, Act III. i, )

ACT II Explanation Setting: Edmund tells Edgar that his Father is angry with him. He tells him to run to his house but always stays protected with his sword. When Edgar leaves the room, Edmund cuts his arm and pretends that it was Edgar’s fault. Edgar doesn’t understand what Edmund is trying to do to him, by blaming everything on him and telling everyone that Edgar wants to kill their Father, Gloucester. Therefore, Gloucester cannot see the evil in Edmund, ao he cannot recognize the good in Edgar.

ACT III “Cornwall: See’t shalt though never. Fellows, hold the chair. Upon these eyes of thine I’ll set my foot. Gloucester: He that will think to live till he be old, give me some help. – O cruel! O you gods! Regan: One side will mock another. Th’ other too.” (Cornwall, Gloucester & Regan, Act III. Vii, 66-72) Rose, Miranda Creation Theatre, U.K April 2014.

ACT III Explanation Setting: Gloucester has just gotten his eyes ripped out, by Cornwall. After Gloucester loses his eyes he can finally see theat Edmund is evil. And that they have both wronged Edgar.

ACT IV “O Goneril! You are not worth the dust which the rude wind blows in your face. I fear your disposition: That nature which contemns its origin cannot be bordered certain in itself; She that herself will sliver and disbranch from her material sap, perforce must writher and come to deadly use.” (Albany, Act IV. ii, 29-36) “Because I would not see thy cruèl nails pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister in his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. The sea, with such a storm as his bare head in hell-black night endured, would have buoyed up, and quenched the stellèd fires. Yet poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain. If wolves had at thy gate howled that stern time, thou shouldst have said, good porter, turn the key, all cruèls else subscribed. But I shall see the wingèd vengeance overtake such children. ” (Gloucester, ACT IV. vii, 57-67)

ACT IV Explanation Setting: Goneril and Albany are fighting because Goneril allowed Regan and Cornwall to rip Gloucester’s eyes out. Albany is finally showing his good side by displaying his loyalty towards King Lear. And Goneril is showing her true colors, by allowing Gloucester’s eyes to be ripped out.

ACT V “I pant for my life: some good I mean to do, Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send, Be brief in it, to th’ castle; for my writ is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia: Nay, send in time.” (Edmund, Act V. iii, ) “He hath commission from thy wife and me to hang Cordelia in the prison, and to lay the blame upon her own despair, that she forbid (destroy) herself.” (Edmund, Act V, iii, ) Abrams, Dennis. Theplayingblog.wordpress.com, Photo. 29 April 2014.

ACT V Explanation Setting: Cordelia and King Lear has been sentenced to death, and while Edmund is on his “death bed” he confesses to having King Lear and Cordelia sentenced to death. Edmund’s evil nature is poisonous to the point that it crosses plot lines and destroys Cordelia and her good nature.