Skip to main content

Who are three people who helped King Lear see the truth, and who are three people who helped Gloucester see the truth?

King Lear’s daughter Cordelia spoke the truth to him from the beginning. She refuses to flatter him the way her sisters do, so Lear disinherits her: “thy truth, then, be thy dower.” She can see through her sisters. However, Cordelia loves and cares for her father, coming to his rescue when his other daughters take his power.


Lear’s loyal follower, the Earl of Kent, also both takes care of Lear and remains honest with him,...

King Lear’s daughter Cordelia spoke the truth to him from the beginning. She refuses to flatter him the way her sisters do, so Lear disinherits her: “thy truth, then, be thy dower.” She can see through her sisters. However, Cordelia loves and cares for her father, coming to his rescue when his other daughters take his power.


Lear’s loyal follower, the Earl of Kent, also both takes care of Lear and remains honest with him, even in the face of his rejection. He tells Lear that Cordelia loves him. For this, Lear banishes Kent, but he returns disguised and continues to serve the king.


Another character who helps Lear face reality is his Fool. He makes jokes and can be the harshest of the king’s critics. Here, the fool mocks Lear for giving away his kingdom:



LEAR: Dost thou call me fool, boy?


FOOL: All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with.



It is more difficult to pinpoint three people who help Gloucester come to terms with the truth. His son Edgar is the most obvious person. He leads his blind father when his eyes have been gouged out and cures him of his desire to commit suicide. When Edgar finally reveals himself to him, the full truth is revealed, and the old man dies of overwhelming emotion.


Gloucester says, “I stumbled when I saw,” so, in a way, those who gouge out his eyes help him determine reality. Regan, Goneril, and Cornwall attack Gloucester in his own home. He cries for Edmund, whom he thinks is loyal. Regan reveals that Edmund “made the overture of thy treasons to us,” prompting them to mutilate him. This is when Gloucester realizes that Edgar is innocent. In a sense, Edgar, Goneril, and Edmund (through his betrayal) help reveal the truth to Gloucester.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more