Shakespeare Concordance: Life

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.