Act 2 Scene 2- Oh no, not the stocks
SETTING: outside Gloucester's Castle
SUMMARY:
Kent argues with Oswald and tries to fight him, rest of inhabitants gather and Cornwall banishes Kent to the stocks against Gloucester's warnings that it will upset Lear.
See Regan's true alliance to sister and at end Kent shows a letter from Cordelia.
CONTEXT
Upheaval of King James 1 giving out knighthoods for 'hundred pounds' (Kent pg.81)
Divine Right (in this case Lear's)
Opinion of 'self-made man' (Kent's rant pg.81)
Feudal system/societal system of the time
Wheel of Fortune
KEY QUOTATIONS
Fortune, good night; smile once more;urn they wheel!' Kent line 169 pg. 91 FATE
· 'No contraries show more antipathy/ Than I and such a knave' ref. to symbolism line 84-85 pg. 85
· 'This ancient ruffian sir...spared to suit of his grey beard' Oswald line 59-60 pg. 85 AGE
· Kent's outbursts pg. 81- 'hundred pound, filthy worseted stocking knave'/ one trunk-inheriting slave' 'composition of a knave, beggar,coward, pandar and son and heir of a mongrel bitch' SOCIETY
Note:
Kent's outburst near the beginning of the scene is incredibly important and useful! It's a really good show of class A* insulting as well as giving insight into attitudes of different people in society at the time. It also establishes the 'old order' viewpoint of Kent, Lear and others in the play.
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...
