questions on scene 1 and 2

1 In the king's opening speeches, he makes mention of his intention to share his kingdom amongst his three daughters. He speaks of wanting to rest himself from the toils of running a kingdom because he is coming significantly closer to death and wishes to be unburdened. He then addresses the topic of love and places all his anticipation on finding out how much his daughters can use words to express and convey love as if it is the most valid quality to qualify a daughter worthy of receiving primary control of the kingdom. This communicates a large amount of insight into the King's character. It reveals that he is elderly, that he likes to be pampered and that he is naive; that is he should not look upon how extravagantly love can be expressed as the medium to decide who receives the most power in the kingdom by share of land.

2 Goneril and Regan both heed to their father's request of describing their love for him. Goneril, being the eldest, starts off. She says that words cannot describe her love for her father, then she attempts make emphasis of it's immense volume by comparison. She makes comparisons to dear things like riches, eyesight and even breath, saying her long is more that all these: unrealistic comparisons that disguise themselves as powerful expressions of a sincere love to King Lear. Regan strategically starts with a comparison to her sister, saying that they are the same, however she attempts to overthrow her sister's attempt of wooing King Lear in saying her words were not sufficient. She creates another peak in her description than Goneril; she classifies his love as the only joy to her life, her being, and all that matters.

3'Be Kent unmannerly when Lear is mad.' Kent was not entirely justified in saying that Lear was mad. It was very irrational, the way he dealt with the situation with his daughters in Kent's opinion. The reason behind the King's action reflects instability in his mental state and decision making skills. The king was aware that Cordelia was most eligible to receive the majority of the kingdom yet he banishes her for the simple reason of being blunt and reasonable. These actions caused Kent to jump to the instinct that the King had become mad, however the correct terminology was not used. Perhaps foolhardy would have been more accurate.

4 Shakespeare has used rhyming lines in Kent's final speeches. This is a technique used by Shakespeare which creates more impact and draws more attention to the significance of Kent's lines. It draws the reader into paying close attention to them and vaguely suggests that there is a greater meaning to the words spoken; one of the characteristics of poetry, which in Shakespear's eyes, would have made it more appropriate to use. It also creates somewhat of a haunt to the other characters on the scene.

5 The King of France has a significant role with regards to Cordelia. After her father banishes her and takes away all her rights to the kingdom and any of the money which were supposed to have accompanied her going into marriage, as well as her rejection from the King of Burgundy, the king of France was very tender and reasonable. He is an outsider to the situation stating the immense and unfair nature of the situation when it was a case that she was his favourite about the others. He expresses his disbelief of her having committed anything so harmful to the king. He demonstrates having a mind of his own and that he lacks greed. His words to Cordelia were tender and sincere, his expression of love for her as well as claiming her to be his wife show that his speech was calculated to heal the wounds already inflicted.

6 Morally, the state of affairs were on a down note. There was somewhat of a sort of unseen gloom that fell upon the Kingdom after the king's major decision. The two daughters who were not sincere in their love now had most of the control of the kingdom by default, and now Cordelia, the most deserving, was subject to their ridicule and judgment. The state of affairs suggests how life's course is never guaranteed and that life is also very unfair. Those who are least deserving tend to bear the victories meant for the deserving. Honesty does not always prove to be the best of policies.

7 Shakespeare allows for Edmund to have an excuse of illegitimacy. His illegitimacy enables him to be at peace with his role being the villain. In the Shakespearean society, bastards were looked down upon because fornication was a sin which was not taken very lightly. The product of such an action, therefore was generally considered as sinful. Edmund is heard accepting the society's judgment and therefore encourages himself in the course of villainy he is about to pursue.

8 Edmund strengthens his plot when he appears to defend his brother. He creates disharmony within his family deliberately by setting up a scene where he may turn his father against his brother for no reason that was true. In the meanwhile, he keeps a clean record in the dealings so that he eliminates any reason for persons to suspect his villainy when he defends and advises his brother for his safety. Defending his brother was a significant action to the plot because it therefore meant that he was better able to be viewed as a sincere individual, innocent to the villainy in process.

9 Gloucester's gullibility fueled the plot of villainy by Edmund. He was quite quick to believe the contents of the forged letter claimed to be from Edgar. He did not question as much as he should have, or even bothered to investigate the matter, rather, with some acting by Edmund, he believed and that was the final word. His gullibility provided Edmund with less trouble in getting the plot to progress smoothly. Edgar's nobility also came into play because Gloucester loves both his sons. I was reasonable to assume that Edgar would want to over throw his father and have all rights to his properties, since he would have been the heir.