King Lear Act 3 Review

Act 3, scene (vi)

Act 3, Scene (i)

• Gloucester brings Lear and the others to find shelter.
• Lear, in his madness, conducts a mock trial of Goneril and Regan.
• Gloucester reveals there is a plot to kill Lear. He implores Kent to bring Lear to safety in Dover.
• In soliloquy, Edgar feels pity for Lear. He will reveal his true identity when he proves his innocence.

• Kent meets a gentleman.
• The gentleman informs Kent (& the audience) that Lear is out in the gathering storm.
• Tension is mounting between Cornwall & Albany.
• French forces have landed at Dover.
• Kent asks the gentleman to bring a message to Cordelia.

Act 3, Scene (ii).

Analysis

• The forces of good are gathering strength.
• We can imagine Lear's wretchedness. Without power & wealth he is becoming nothing.

Analysis.

Act 3, Scene (iii)

• Lear challenges the storm.
• The Fool urges Lear to escape out of the storm.
• Lear exclaims he is a victim "...a man, more sinned against than sinning."
• Lear expresses pity for the Fool.

• The mock trial illustrates that Lear still blames Goneril and Regan for his suffering. Vengeance is to the forefront of his unstable mind.
• This scene is a parody of the love test in Act 1.
• It is a ridiculous presentation on justice.
• The loyalty of Kent and Gloucester in this scene is movingly portrayed.
• Edgar's empathy and compassion are clear.
• We never see the Fool again. As Lear grows in compassion and self awareness, the Fool's lessons are no longer needed.

Analysis

• Shakespeare's descriptive language conveys the ferocity of the storm.
• Lear equates the violence of the storm with the ingratitude of his daughters.
• Lear sees himself as a victim.
• He is starting to grow in wisdom through suffering " Poor Fool and Knave. I have one part in my heart, That's sorry yet for thee."
• Suffering allows him to recognise his own weakness " A poor, infirm, weak and despised old man."
• The Fool is pragmatic and loyal.
• Kent displays unwavering loyalty.

• Gloucester confides in Edmund that he is unhappy with the way Lear has been treated.
• He tells his son that he has received a letter informing him of the arrival of French forces in Dover.
• In a soliloquy, Edmund says he will inform Cornwall of all that Gloucester has told him.

Act 3 Review

Analysis

• This scene provides Edmund with the opportunity to betray his father.
• Excellent example of dramatic irony.
• His manipulative and dishonest nature is obvious.
• Gloucester has been a weak character up to this point but now he displays new strength.

"King Lear"

Act 3, Scene (iv)

• Lear insists that Kent and the Fool enter the hovel before him.
• The Fool rushes out, afraid of the devil in the hovel.
• Edgar (Poor Tom) emerges,
• Lear believes Edgar is in such a wretched state because he too was mistreated by his daughters.
• Lear tears off his clothes in solidarity with Edgar.
• Gloucester arrives to provide Lear with food and shelter.

Analysis

• As Lear suffers, his compassion for others grows.
• In a social commentary, Lear acknowledges that he neglected his responsibilities as King, "O, I have ta'en too little care of this!"
• Lear has a growing sense of his role in his own downfall, "'Twas this flesh begot those pelican daughters."
• As Lear grows in madness, he sees the truth and gains wisdom.

Act 3, Scene (v)

Act 3, Scene (vii)

• Edmund alerts Cornwall to the fact that Gloucester is trying to help Lear.
• He shows him the letter that proves Gloucester is in touch with the French forces.
• Cornwall rewards Edmund by making him Earl of Gloucester.

• Albany is to be alerted that French forces have landed in Dover.
• Oswald tells Cornwall that Lear is approaching Dover.
• Gloucester is bound and brought before Cornwall and Regan.
• They question him and call him a traitor.
• Cornwall gouges out one of his eyes.
• Regan calls for the other to be removed.
• A servant intervenes and fights Cornwall, who is fatally wounded.
• Gloucester cries out for Edmund. Regan tells him that it was Edmund who betrayed him.
• Gloucester realises that Edgar was innocent.
• He is cast out of the castle.
• Two servants are critical of Cornwall and Regan's treatment of Gloucester. They decide to help him and ask Poor Tom to guide him.

Analysis.

• We see further evidence of Edmund's ruthless, self-serving nature.
• His deviousness is clear.

• The antagonists are very much on alert and preparing for battle.
• Lear's suffering was psychological during the storm, whereas Gloucester's suffering is physical.
• Even though Gloucester is blinded, in a moral sense, he now sees clearly.
• This scene is a vision of man's inhumanity to man. There is a sense of mob mentality felt here.
• The bravery of the servants is very much a social commentary on Shakespeare's behalf.