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A3 Scene 5 - Coggle Diagram
A3 Scene 5
key quotes
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Cornwall - "True or False, it hath made thee Earl of Gloucester"
Edmund - "I will preserve in my course of loyalty, though the conflict be spore between that and my blood"
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A01
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Cornwall suggests that just as he can take on the traditional legal role of a father in granting a political title that would usually come from inheritance, he can also replace a biological father of flesh and blood. Incidentally, as he falls for Edmund's performance of hesitation about turning in Gloucester, he misjudges Edmund just as Gloucester and Edgar have before.
both Edmund and Cornwall pretend to be virtuous, as each attempts to justify his disloyalty. Clearly, Gloucester and Lear are both victims of two self-serving men — Edmund and Cornwall.
Edmund, feigning regret for having betrayed his father, laments that his nature, which is to honor his father, must now be subordinate to the loyalty he feels for his country. Thus, Edmund makes excuses for betraying his own father.
key themes
Fathers, children, siblings
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characters
cornwall
Granting Edmund the title of Earl of Gloucester, Cornwall then sends him to find his father and arrest him.
Cornwall reassures Edmund that he, Cornwall, will be Edmund's "dearer father" (26) from here on.
Cornwall's presence serves to reinforce Edmund's choice, when he suggests that perhaps Edgar is justified to seek his father's murder. Cornwall sees Gloucester's actions as treasonous, and describes him as having a "reproveable badness" :warning:
edmund
Edmund assents, although he continues to lament a 'sore conflict' (3.5. 23) between his duty and his blood.
Edmund betrays Gloucester to Regan and her husband, Cornwall, who puts out Gloucester's eyes and makes Edmund the Earl of Gloucester.
Summary
The setting is Gloucester's castle. Edmund betrays his father and wins Cornwall's approval by releasing the details of France's plan to aid the king. As reward, Edmund gains Gloucester's title and lands.
Edmund tells Cornwall about Gloucester’s decision to help Lear and about the incriminating letter from France; in return, Cornwall makes Edmund earl of Gloucester.
relevant context
In the play as printed in 1608, and again in 1623, Edmund is routinely called Bastard’ in speech prefixes and stage directions, perhaps stressing stock associations of the word with unpleasantness and impurity.
Symbols
Letters
There are thirty-three references to letters during the course of the play. It has been argued that these not only contribute to the plot but add to the range of ideas and meaning depicted.
A02
It is important that you can analyse characters’ language closely. The first line of the scene (‘I will have my revenge’) suggests that violence is imminent. This is confirmed by Cornwall’s consistently decisive and ruthless tone. Showing his customary facility with language, Edmund speaks politely
and formally to Cornwall, who now acts as if he is the father of the nation. Edmund’s exclamations in his second speech are emptily melodramatic, drawing attention to his chilling hypocrisy. Then in contrast, Edmund’s aside to the audience a few seconds later is as vicious and cold blooded as his new patron’s lines.