Like many of Shakespeare's work, I have not read King Lear. So far in Act I there is very much going on. I have read a few of his plays and like the others I like what I have read so far.
As the first scene opens Earl of Gloucester is speaking to Earl of Kent. Gloucester's illegitmate son is there, Edmund. Gloucester says that he loves Edmund but he is a bastard child. I don't understand if he loves him so much then why was he raised by his mother and not raised with Gloucester. Next enters King Lear. When we see him for the first time he is talking about dividing up his kingdom into thirds; one for each daughter. King Lear asks his daughters to proclaim their love for him and who ever proves to love him more gets the biggest piece of the kingdom. Two of them just go on and on about how much they love him. The third daughter Cordelia does not. She states that she loves him as much as a daughter should. King Lear disowns her on the spot and divides up her piece between the other two sisters.
In the first act there are two instances about love. It is interesting because one proclaims to love his illegitmat child and the other two selfish girls are proclaiming love for their father that they don't have. As we find out later in the first act these two things could back fire on them. Edmund is so angry at his father for not raising him and loving him like his half-brother Edgar that he plots against their father and makes Gloucester believe that Edgar is going to try to kill him. While this is going on Goneril and Regan (King Lear's older daughters) are plotting in taking all power and authority from him. While staying at Goneril's, King Lear is ordered by her to get rid of fifty of his knights. He refuses and leaves to stay with Regan as he leaves he hopes that Goneril will be childless and regrets giving her his power.
I am very interested to see how Act II will be with all of these characters. How will Goneril and Regans plan work out? Will Edgar really end up killing his father, Gloucester? What will happen to King Lear at Regans?
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