1. Redemptive
1.1. Cordelia, Kent, and Gloucester represent redemptive true love. They suffer banishment, are misjudged and mistreated but do all they can to help their loved ones
1.2. Although cordelia was banished by her father she started a war in Britain to restore her father to greatness.
1.2.1. Quote - “no blown ambition doth our arms incite but love,dear love and our aged fathers right”
1.2.1.1. Cordelia s love helped bring Lear back from the brink of insanity when her evil sisters destructive love pushed Lear towards madness
1.2.1.2. Quote-“ what shall cordelia speak? Love,and be silent”
1.3. Kent being banished by Lear still didn’t stop him from wanting to help Lear. He disguised himself as “poor Tom” to help him overcome the evil deeds his daughters have done.
1.3.1. Kent is devoted and loyal to Lear.this is expressed when he tried to persuade Lear to get shelter from the storm.
1.3.1.1. His love and loyalty to Lear means he does not see life as worth living without Lear “I have a journey shortly to go,my master calls me,I must not say no”
1.3.1.2. Quote-“wilt break my heart”(Kent) “I had rather break mine own”(Lear)
1.4. Gloucester physically suffers the most for helping Lear. When he hears about Lears daughters plan for his death he rushes to tell Lear and to get him safety escorted to Dover.he’s punished by Cornwall by getting his eyes plucked out.
1.4.1. Quote-“my duty cannot suffer t’obey in all your daughters hard commands. Though their injunction be to bar my doors...Yet have I ventured to come seek you out”
1.4.1.1. Even thought regan and goneril have kicked Lear out for punishment and to suffer in the storm, Gloucester has taken pity on him and wants to help bring him to shelter no matter what the punishment
2. Destructive
2.1. Lears narcissism and love of power blinds him to the true nature of love,Gloucester love towards his son Edmund(illegitimate)and soon after Edgar(legitimate),goneril and regans unlawful love for Edmund and pushing their father to madness
2.2. Beginning of play Lear is too interested in himself to realise Goneril and Regan’s twisted land evil ways. He was blinded by his ego. He was also blind to Cordelias true love for him. He banished her for not playing up her love for him.
2.2.1. Quote-“here I disclaim all my parental care,prop inequity and property of blood,and as a stranger to my heart,and me hold thee this forever”(Lear) here we see the start of lears downfall. He was too blind to see cordelias true love and who flattered him for power and land
2.3. Goneril and regan are plotting against their father and that their declaration towards their father was false just so they could gain power and gain his land
2.3.1. Quote -“pray you let us his together. If our father carry authority with such deposition he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us”(Goneril) “we must do something, and in the heat”(regan)
2.4. Goneril and Regans list for Edmund causes destruction. Because of their lust both sisters end up dying. Goneril poisons her sister out of spite that she wants Edmund. Goneril then commits suicide out of guilt of killing her sister.
2.4.1. Quote-“sick o sick”(regan) “ if not, I’ll ne’er trust medicine”
3. Love
3.1. Love is a very powerful theme and a central element in king Lear. At the start of the play it displays love but not in a redemptive or destructive way until further along. King Lear shows us that pure,loyal and unselfish love has redemptive power when tested against the destructive power of false treacherous,corrupt love.
3.1.1. Possible introduction
4. Quotes
4.1. “What shall cordelia speak? Love,and be silent” -cordelia
4.1.1. “No blown ambition doth our arms incite but love,dear love and our aged fathers right” -cordelia
4.2. “Wilt Break my heart”-Kent “I had rather break mine own”-lear
4.2.1. “ I have a journey shortly to go, my master calls me, I must not say no”-Kent