Thematic Quotes – King Lear, W. Shakespeare
Royauté: To shake all cares and business from our age […] While we Unburdened crawl toward death (1.1) We will divest us both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state (1.1) Only we shall retain The name, and all th’addition to a king (1.1) Every inch a king (4.6)
Vêtements: We will divest us both of rule (1.1) Off, off, you lendings: come, unbutton here. (3.1) Pray undo this button (5.3)
Quantification de l’amour That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature does with merit challenge Sir, I do love you more than word can wield the matter (Goneril) A love that makes breath poor and speech unable (Goneril) What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent. (1.1) But now our joy […] what can you say to draw a third more opulent than your sisters? Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty According to my bond, no more no less. Thy truth then be thy dower Fairest Cordelia, thou art most rich being poor, Most choice forsaken and most loved despised (France) I’ll go with thee; Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty, And thou art twice her love (2.4; To Goneril)
Thematic Quotes – King Lear, W. Shakespeare
Le rien: How, nothing will come of nothing. (1.1) What paper were you reading? Nothing, my Lord (1.2 ; Edmund) This is nothing, fool (Lear) Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle? (Fool) Why, no, boy, nothing can be made out of nothing (Lear). (1.4) Now thou art an O without a figure; I am better than thou art now. I am a fool, thou art nothing. (1.4) Poor Tom, That’s something yet: Edgar I nothing am (2.2)
Vieillesse: You see how full of changes his age is (1.1 ; Goneril) Old fools are babes again (1.3 ; Goneril) I pray you, father, being weak, seem so (2.4 ; Regan) So white, and such a traitor? (3.7 ; Regan to Gloucester) It smells of mortality (4.6)
Identité: He hath ever but slenderly known himself (1.1 ; Regan) Does any here know me? […] Who is it that can tell me who I am? (1.4)
Folie : Dost thou call me fool, boy? All thy other titles thou hast given away (1.4) O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! I would not me bad. (1.5) Now I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad (2.4 ; Lear to Goneril) O fool, I shall go mad (2.4) My wits begin to turn (3.2)
Thematic Quotes – King Lear, W. Shakespeare
This tempest in my mind (3.4) His wits begin t’unsettle. (3.4 ; Kent) Reason in madness (4.6 ; Edgar)
Rôles parents/enfants inversés Thou mad’st thy daughters thy mothers (1.4) He childed as I fathered (3.6; Edgar) This child-changed father (4.7 ; Cordelia)
Aveuglément: Let him smell his way to Dover (3.7 ; Regan) I have no way, and therefore want no eyes: I stumbled when I saw (4.1) ‘Tis the time’s plague when madmen lead the blind (4.1 ; Gloucester) I see it feelingly (4.6 ; Gloucester)
Cordelia: It seemed she was a queen Over her passion, who, most rebel-like, Sought to be king o’er her. (4.3). Look on her: look, her lips, Look there, look there ! (5.3)
Lien parents/enfants: The bond cracked ‘twixt son and father (1.2 ; Gloucester)
Thematic Quotes – King Lear, W. Shakespeare
Animalité: Goneril’s attitude is more hideous than the “sea-monster” Goneril has a “wolfish visage” (1.4) Goneril’s tongue is “most serpent-like (2.2) Pelican daughters (3.4) dog-hearted daughters (4.3)
La Fortune/Chance: Fortune, goodnight; smile once more, turn thy wheel (2.2 ; Kent) A man made tame to Fortune’s blows (4.6 ; Edgar)
