Act I, Scene II
Edmund
This dialogue occurs
between Edmund and his father, Gloucester. It occurs right after Edmund gives
Gloucester "Edgar's" letter, incriminating him of conspiring against
his father.
EDMUND I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please
you to suspend your
indignation against my
brother till you can derive
from him better
testimony of his intent,
you shall run a certain
course; where, if you
violently proceed against
him, mistaking his purpose,
it would make a great
gap in your own honour, and
shake in pieces the
heart of his obedience. I
dare pawn down my life
for him, that he hath wrote
this to feel my
affection to your honour,
and to no further
pretence of danger.
This passage details how
Edmund tries to portray his love for his brother and cover for his
"brother's" letter. He does this to merely make the situation more
believable, and by acting like he loves his brother he is actually proving he
does not.
Edmund is using the word
as a way to really get his father's attention. Here the word is being used
as an asset, or collateral to convince Gloucester to listen to Edmund. He
does not merely think or believe an idea, he lays down his life for this idea.
Although this word is not very connotative, it is very symbolic, because
Edmund's life is riding on this lie. Whether his father believes this or not
will determine if he becomes and heir to Gloucester, or simply the illegitimate
child.
Act II, Scene II
Cornwall
This exchange occurs
after Kent has insulted and fought with Oswald, and Cornwall is bringing
"justice."
CORNWALL Fetch forth the stocks! As I have life and honour,
There shall he sit till
noon.
This quote is Cornwall stating that as long as
he lives and has his power Kent will remain in the stocks until noon the next
day.
Here Cornwall is using the word life as an
expression to make an absolute statement. He is making clear there is no doubt
that Kent will be punished. He is making Kent an example and using his life and
honor to make the point. Ironically when Cornwall loses his honor (gouging out
Gloucester's eyes for "treason") he also loses his life.
Similarly to Edmund, Cornwall uses the word life
as an expression to prove a point; however, although neither have connotations
to it, they both ironically do represent the fate of the speaker.
Act III, Scene IV
Gloucester
This statement occurs between Gloucester and
Kent while they are out in the storm. Gloucester makes says this line after
Kent says King Lear's wits begin to unsettle.
GLOUCESTER Canst thou blame him?
[Storm still]
His daughters seek his
death: ah, that good Kent!
He said it would be thus,
poor banish'd man!
Thou say'st the king grows
mad; I'll tell thee, friend,
I am almost mad myself: I
had a son,
Now outlaw'd from my blood;
he sought my life,
But lately, very late: I
loved him, friend;
No father his son dearer:
truth to tell thee,
The grief hath crazed my
wits. What a night's this!
I do beseech your grace,--
This quote is a quick summary of the plots
against the King and against Gloucester. Overall Gloucester is just remorseful
over what has happened so far throughout the play.
In this passage the first thing that caught my
eye is Shakespeare writes "His daughters seek his death" for the
King, but then writes "he sought my life" for Gloucester. The use of
life instead of death the second time around is a curious situation. My best
guess for this is that Lear may already be "dead" in essence. He has
lost his mind and is no longer truly himself, the true Lear has died, where as
Gloucester is still sane and aware of reality (at least for the time being).
This difference can be seen when Gloucester says, "the king grows mad... I
am almost mad myself." Ironically Edgar truly did seek Gloucester life,
not his death.
Unlike the other two quotes, life in this
passage is not an expression of speech used to draw attention or cause
persuasion, but instead here life is a Freudian slip of something Gloucester
may subconsciously be aware of. It is also a way to describe sanity.
Act IV, Scene IV
Cordelia
These words are exchanged between Cordelia and
the Doctor before France goes to war with England. She is speaking with the
doctor about her father’s insanity.
CORDELIA All blest secrets,
All you unpublish'd virtues
of the earth,
Spring with my tears! be aidant
and remediate
In the good man's distress!
Seek, seek for him;
Lest his ungovern'd rage
dissolve the life
That wants the means to
lead it.
This passage details out Cordelia's love for her
father, and her want for nature to heal him of his insanity.
What's interesting about the use of life in this
situation is how life is being taken over by his rage and insanity. It creates
a comparison between life and sanity, as if life cannot exist without sanity.
The use of life in this context is similar to the
way Gloucester used life. Cordelia uses
it as a way to discern sanity from insanity.
Although the word life is used to represent
itself towards the beginning of the novel, as the two sisters begin to make
their moves for power, the use and meaning of life changes. In the early stages
of the play the word life is used as a means of persuasion, collateral for what
the characters are saying or commanding, but after the introduction of the
storm, and the banishment of Lear the word life takes on a whole new meaning.
As the storm continues the word life no longer is just the amount of time
someone lives, but begins to detail their state of mind, and quality of life.
Life becomes representative of a person's sanity, and as the sanity is lost he
begins to be referred to as dead, or he is depicted with a” dissolving” life.
