My sublime padlet by Stuart Nabors https://padlet.com/stuart_nabors/4uu37r1ky0b7 Made with a dash of wit en-us 2017-02-02 15:23:46 UTC 2017-02-04 15:45:11 UTC hello@padlet.com Group 1 https://padlet.com/stuart_nabors/4uu37r1ky0b7/wish/151174668 This selection of literature is incredibly intriguing, for multiple reasons. First and foremost, King Lear was blinded by his own greed and power. On the contrary, his daughter, Cordelia, has “washed eyes” revealing that she is seeing clearly, emphasizing the motif of both blindness and vision. It becomes evident to the reader that Cordelia now sees her father for what he is--an egotistical tyrant--while her sisters are still using choice eyes to avoid his obvious impotence. While she now sees her father for what he truly is, she makes sure to let him know that she still loves him. This is ironic, due to the fact that Lear will later dismiss Cordelia for her “disloyalty” to her father, while the reader knows that she is showing more loyalty to him than her sisters by telling Lear the harsh truth, attempting to open up his eyes to his own idiocracy. 
***Good ideas here. Is he "obviously impotent" at this point? What else could the washed eyes represent? Remember to code your observations. Is this symbolism? Word play? you mentioned irony. Also, what could the "jewels of our father" represent?]]> 2017-02-02 15:31:46 UTC https://padlet.com/stuart_nabors/4uu37r1ky0b7/wish/151174668 Group 3 https://padlet.com/stuart_nabors/4uu37r1ky0b7/wish/151174871 “Thine eye” is being used as figurative language and referring to a metaphor of archery that goes with the god of Apollo on the next line. Apollo is the god of light and healing, which can relate to vision. Vision is blinded with darkness and Apollo, and thus Kent, are able to shed light on the situation going on, bring better vision to the situation. In addition, the light and vision are related to wisdom which is a trait that Lear is lacking. 

Lear tells Kent to get “out of [his] sight”, which is characterizes Lear’s blindness; his inability to see what is happening right in front of him and foresee the consequences of his actions. Basically Kent is advising Lear to reconsider his drastic action in banishing Cordelia. He is making a reference to his vision because the author wants to emphasize that Lear’s “vision” or his perception of things is blurred. He doesn’t truly know right from wrong. Kent tells Lear to “see better”, which is a huge breach of decorum by Kent; however, Kent is showing his loyalty to Lear by being honest as well as his clear sight, which is contrasted with Lear’s.

Kent shows a strong sense of loyalty to Lear throughout this scene. His unending loyalty shows Kent’s character while also providing a drastic comparison to how others treat Lear. Kent also is very bold in being so honest to the king (which is why he is eventually banished as well) but in doing this Kent is proving his loyalty to the King, as he wants nothing but the best for him. However, Lear refuses to listen to anything that is contradictory to his own beliefs. 
****Good observations. Frame these ideas around the literary techniques, coding them like I modeled for you on the assignment page
]]> 2017-02-02 15:32:12 UTC https://padlet.com/stuart_nabors/4uu37r1ky0b7/wish/151174871 Group 2 https://padlet.com/stuart_nabors/4uu37r1ky0b7/wish/151175663 (T) Father vs Son: major theme in the book, young and new taking out the old. This idea is specifically referenced earlier by Lear and is represented by his daughters (Reagan and Goneril) and is now specifically referenced by Gloucester. This only helps to further the idea of natural selection as it relates the young or the new pushing out the weak and old. 
****reversal of natural order motif?

(R) Astrological references: symbols of change.  Edmund explains how whenever we are in bad fortune, and it is our own fault, we still blame it on the changing of the world (sun/moon)
*****when you say "we," do you mean people like Gloucester?    Is he implying that people don't take responsibility for themselves?

(CH) Edmund: views himself as a part of fate...he believes that he is destined to greatness, regardless of the fact that he is a bastard child. Gloucester believes that people shouldn’t leave everything to fate or destiny. Greater emphasis on natural selection and its role in the hierarchy of modern society. 
****Is Edmund a proponent of fate or of free will?

(C) Compares Gloucester’s perception of a state of nature and Edmunds. Edmund mentions the idea of natural selection a lot whereas Gloucester seems to relate the chaos of nature to the chaos of society without order. Edmund looks upon nature positively as a means of reaching a higher position in the social order. Gloucester views nature as chaotic, something that destroys the societal order of the world. This could speak to the effect their positions have had on their perception (Gloucester as a wealthy, well liked noble and Edmund as the rejected child.) 
]]> 2017-02-02 15:34:06 UTC https://padlet.com/stuart_nabors/4uu37r1ky0b7/wish/151175663 Group 4 https://padlet.com/stuart_nabors/4uu37r1ky0b7/wish/151175996 (CH) This passage begins the development of Edmund’s persona and character, as this is the first instance the reader gets a glimpse of Edmund’s thought process. We first met Edmund at the commencement of the book, when he was being berated by his father for being illegitimate. We now are seeing the antipathy that that event has aroused in Edmund. Unlike Cordelia, who in the first act accepts her fate, Edmund seeks revenge for his father’s wrongdoings. Not only does he want to take down his father, Edmund has a desire to ruin Edgar too. This characterizes Edmund as a vengeful and purely angry person. Lines 350-355 truly exhibit Edmund’s need to topple society: he is making sure that nature wins, introducing his faith in the play’s motif regarding natural order. Edmund subscribes to the idea that natural order should supercede societal order, and sees himself as a “legitimate” son since he is the flesh-and-blood product of his father just as much as his brother Edgar, even though the rules of society dictate that he is lesser. He feels that he is spearheading an almost crusade to bring about change (C) Looking at a different quote from Edmund later on in the scene, he seems to contradict this belief in natural order though through the ridicule of it. He points out how people tend to blame their actions on the stars, saying that they only became a criminal because it was destined in the stars. Then he states that he believes that he would be the same way he is now no matter what stars had risen during his creation. So this other quote makes it seem that Edmund’s beliefs might go against natural order, but there are multiple interpretations that could be made based on other things that he has said. (Motif) The passage is a soliloquy by Edmund who introduces the motif of nature. He values nature and its value over any societal custom. Edmund believes that a father should love his children, give them glory, not matter who the mother is. He truly doesn’t understand why society prohibits him from receiving his father’s love and inheritance. This motif runs throughout the play as both Lear and Gloucester deny inheritance and love to one of their children. (P/L) I think that Edmund will eventually be the one to fall, not Edgar or Gloucester. A tragic flaw is a literary device. This flawed character trait may motivate a person in the beginning and end up doing big damage by the conclusion. I think that Edmund’s downfall is his need to prove himself worthy -- to defeat the “better” brother. This could end up creating a huge mess that ends with him getting hurt, not Edgar.

Avery, Quinn, Cam, Cabell

****Good observations! I like that you're making predictions here]]> 2017-02-02 15:34:55 UTC https://padlet.com/stuart_nabors/4uu37r1ky0b7/wish/151175996