Why does kent trip oswald

The Fool needles Lear further about his bad decisions, foreseeing that Regan will treat Lear no better than Goneril did. Lear calls on heaven to keep him from going mad. SparkTeach Teacher's Handbook. Why does Lear banish Cordelia? Why does Edmund hate his family? Why does Cornwall blind Gloucester? Who rules Britain at the end of the play? Lear arrives with his followers and Kent is accepted amongst them. Her father can't believe his own daughter would be so critical and when Goneril suggests he should reduce his retinue by half, Lear declares that he will leave and go to Regan.

He prays to Nature that Goneril should either become sterile or that she should produce a child as cruel as herself. After Lear departs, Albany protests about Goneril's behaviour, but she refuses to listen. Instead she sends Oswald with a letter to Regan, warning her sister that their father is on his way and which sets out what her tactics have been regarding Lear and his retinue. If thou canst serve: Kent plans to act, in disguise, as a servant to Lear, from whose presence he has been banished.

At the time the play was written, Catholics were considered to be traitors to the state. Kent and Lear exploit two meanings of 'poor' here - i. Call the clotpoll back: Oswald has pretended to be too busy to tend to Lear, thus carrying out his mistress's order to be 'slack of former services'. If the rules are broken or ignored, then this shows contempt for the person in authority. I have perceived a most faint neglect He has tried to give others the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the neglect that he has perceived rather than face the unpalatable truth.

Servants were commonly called 'sir' or 'sirrah' by their masters. The role of a Fool in a royal court was to entertain by singing, dancing, telling jokes etc. Lear's Fool takes risks even for a fool, and is threatened with punishment for some of his barbed remarks. The Fool has a 'coxcomb' as a symbol of his role.

This would have been a cap in the form of a cock's crest. True to his role, Lear's Fool commences here a string of amusing remarks which carry deeper philosophical implications. In fact, it is the opposite of what has occurred, but the Fool ironically suggests that Cordelia may be lucky to be banished, since she will be away from her willful father and she is 'blessed' by being married to the King of France. If I gave them all my living: If I gave my daughters all my possessions, I would wear the sign of being a Fool.

The Fool now pointedly offers his cap to Lear and tells him to 'beg' another from his daughters. Kent and Oswald arrive separately to deliver letters to Regan.

Oswald does not immediately recognize Kent. The steward is confused when Kent denounces him and condemns his lack of integrity. When Oswald denies knowing him, Kent draws his sword and begins to beat the steward. Oswald's cries for help draw the attention of the castle's occupants, who come to his rescue.

In answer to Cornwall's query about the encounter, Kent attacks Oswald's personality, his lack of honesty, and even his appearance. Cornwall defends Oswald and orders that Kent be placed in stocks. Gloucester intervenes, reminding Regan and Cornwall that the king will consider their action against his messenger as an indignity, but Regan suggests that insulting Goneril's steward is a more grievous offense.

All exit but Gloucester, who apologizes to Kent for his mistreatment. When he is left alone, Kent reads a letter from Cordelia, which promises that she will somehow intervene on her father's behalf. Initially, Oswald appears to be the wronged party, while Kent is a rude thug, just looking to start a fight. The unhappy Gloucester praises Edmund and vows to pursue Edgar, sending men out to search for him.

Regan then asks Gloucester for his advice in answering letters from Lear and Goneril. Kent roundly abuses Oswald, describing him as cowardly, vain, boastful, overdressed, servile, and groveling. After everyone leaves, Kent reads a letter that he has received from Cordelia in which she promises that she will find some way, from her current position in France, to help improve conditions in Britain.

The unhappy and resigned Kent dozes off in the stocks.