Symbols and Motifs So Far by S Angheloni https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs en-us 2017-04-06 16:40:12 UTC 2023-01-22 14:04:07 UTC hello@padlet.com Vision and Blindness (Motif) sandra_angheloni https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165203379 "I have no way, and there want no eyes; / I stumbled when I saw. Full oft 'tis seen / Our  means secure us, and our mere defects / Prove our commodities. O dear son Edgar, /The food of thy abused father's wrath; / Might I but live to see thee in my touch, / I'd say I had eyes again!"
(4.1.18-24)
Situational irony-Gloucester finally sees only when he has gone blind. 
Gloucester was metaphorically blind before this to Edmund's deception.]]> 2017-04-06 16:50:47 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165203379 Vision and Blindness (Motif) sandra_angheloni https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165204219 2017-04-06 16:53:07 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165204219 The Fool https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165211848 "O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house is better than this rain-water out o'door."(3.2.10-11)

The fool is urging Lear to make peace with his daughters so that he doesn' have to suffer the forces of nature. Represents the fools position as Lear's sanity as he understands that not wanting to be around one's daughters out of hatred does not take priority over safety and security from the forces of nature.]]> 2017-04-06 17:17:34 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165211848 Nothingness julika1318 https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212084 "Nothing will come of nothing:speak again". (1.1.92)
-Lear]]> 2017-04-06 17:18:24 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212084 Nakedness and Clothing https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212529 (Act 2,Scene3 , 10-15)
"My face I'll grime with filth, Blanket my loins, elf all my hair in knots, and with presented nakedness outface" - Edgar's soliluquy  

He is putting on a disguise by dressing like a poor beggar named Poor Crazy Tom and wearing almost nothing but a loincloth and smearing his face with filth


]]> 2017-04-06 17:19:57 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212529 Animals https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212852 "O, reason not the need! our basest beggars/ Are in the poorest thing superfluous:/ Allow not nature more than nature needs,/ Man's life is cheap as beast's."(2.4.261-264)

Basically, Lear explains that the possession of luxuries (things we don't necessarily need) is something that separates us from animals; without such things, we would be no different from animals.]]> 2017-04-06 17:20:54 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212852 Animals https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212858 "Come not between the dragon and it's wrath" (1.1.121) Lear 

Lear uses this analogy to Kent telling him he has a hot temper just like a dragon when he gets angry .]]> 2017-04-06 17:20:55 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212858 Animals https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212891 "Come not between the dragon and his wrath." (1.1.124) 
In this quotation Lear compares himself to a dragon to explain his anger and high temper. ]]> 2017-04-06 17:21:01 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212891 Animals https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212962 "Those pelican daughters." (3.4.73-81) Lear

After Goneril and Regan betray Lear (who has given them all his land and power), he's quick to condemn all women as he attempts to blame the troubles of the world on "unkind daughters." What's particularly interesting about this passage is the way Lear compares his daughters to "pelicans." In Shakespeare's day, mother pelicans were thought to have wounded their breasts so their young could feed off their blood.

]]> 2017-04-06 17:21:14 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165212962 vision and blindness https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165213022 "because i would not see thy cruel nails pluck out his poor old eyes;" (3.7.53) Gloucester

Regan and Goneril want to pluck out Gloucester's eyes and blind

]]> 2017-04-06 17:21:25 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165213022 The Fool https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165213090 The fool is the counterpart to Lear in terms of Lear's mental state. The fool remains wise and reasonable while he is in the play, as Lear decends into madness. He is seen of what's left of Lear's sanity. The quote "And I'll go to bed at noon". (3.6.83 Lear), is the last line the fool speaks, which represents the sanity of Lear having been entirely eradicated. ]]> 2017-04-06 17:21:42 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165213090 Vision/blindness https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165214314 "Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides; Who covers faults, at last with shame derides. Well may you prosper!" (1.1.280
Cordelia is the only one who isn't blind to her sisters lies]]> 2017-04-06 17:25:18 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165214314 Animals https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165214857 As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods. They kill us for sport.     (4.1.36.)

Humans are like flies

]]> 2017-04-06 17:26:40 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165214857 The crown of flowers https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165214932 Lear appears wearing a crown of flowers. It shows that Lear is returning to nature. It also shows that he is still mad, since no sane man would appear like that]]> 2017-04-06 17:26:52 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165214932 nothingness https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165215275 "now thou art an O / without a figure. I am better than thou art now. I / am a Fool, thou art nothing" (1.4.197-199).]]> 2017-04-06 17:27:45 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165215275 Fool https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165215332 The fool symbolizes Lears sanity throughout the play. When Lear looses all sanity the fool no longer makes appearances in the play. The fool acts as the honest comedian, that points out Lear's obvious mistake of giving his Kingdom to Goneril and Cordelia. (1.4.105) "Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipp'd out when the lady's Branch may stand by th'fire and stink".]]> 2017-04-06 17:27:55 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165215332 Animals https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165215379 2.3.209-210
"To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,
Necessity's sharp pinch.
Return with her?" 
Lear speaks to Regan about not wanting to return back to Gonerils house. He rather be poor and be friends with a wolf and an owl than go back to Gonerils house. ]]> 2017-04-06 17:28:02 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165215379 The storm on the Heath julika1318 https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165215597 Thou think's tis much that this contentious storm/invades us to the skin: so tis to thee:/ but here the greater malady is fix'd/ the lesser is scarce felt." (3.4.6-9)
-Lear
Lear says that his suffering in the storm is better than having to face the betrayal of his daughters. He is so overcome with the pain of his daughters betrayal that he does not really notice the storm. The storm is nothing in comparison to what he is feeling inside. Symbolic of his mental turmoil.]]> 2017-04-06 17:28:42 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165215597 Old men and babies https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165216157
Whose mind and mine I know in that are one,
Not to be overruled. Idle old man That still would manage those authorities That he hath given away! Now by my life,
Old fools are babes again and must be used (1. 3. 16-20) Goneril is speaking to Oswald about how Lear will not be able to get back the power which he has given up. She also talks about how he will return to a childish state when Oswald follows her command and ignores him
]]> 2017-04-06 17:30:19 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165216157 The Crown of Flowers https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165216636 Lear's crown of flowers and preposterous appearance, respresents Lear's decent into madness leading him to create a makeshift crown made of thorns and flowers. This shows that Lear is desperately grasping on to any sense of power he can find (as he's lost it all), and that he is returning to the primitive beginnings of mankind. ]]> 2017-04-06 17:31:40 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165216636 Crown of Flowers/Weeds (symbol) https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165217242 "Crown'd with rank fumiter and Furrow-weeds / With hardocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers / Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow/ In our sustaining corn" (4.4.3-6)

A symbol of what power Lear has left - before, he wore a real crown and he ruled his kingdom. Now, he is reduced to nothing, and therefore wears a crown worth nothing.
Also relates to Lear being cast out and returning to his primal nature, and his descent into madness.]]> 2017-04-06 17:33:30 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165217242 Edmunds letter https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165217947 Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law my services are bound... I grow, I prosper; Now Gods, stand up for bastards (1. 2. 1-22) Edmund first revealing the contents of the letter and his plan to become a Legitamate heir ]]> 2017-04-06 17:35:42 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165217947 Animals https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165217986 "Ingratitude, thou marble hearted fiend, more hideous, when showest thee in a child, than the sea monster" (1.4.249-251).

Lear is saying this to goneril when she complains about his rude house guest behaviour. The sea monster in this quote is used to emphasize the offense Lear has taken. In this quotation, we can also see the beginnings of Lear giving up on civilization since he begins to see his daughter, who is royalty, as something closer to a beast.]]> 2017-04-06 17:35:49 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165217986 Animals https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165218547 "Come not between the dragon and it's wrath" (1.1.121) Lear 

Lear uses this analogy to Kent telling him he has a hot temper just like a dragon when he gets angry .]]> 2017-04-06 17:37:30 UTC https://padlet.com/sandra_angheloni/learsymbolsmotifs/wish/165218547