ACT IV
SCENE i
Edgar (and probably the banished Oxford) talks himself into a glimmer of optimism: “better thus, and known to be contemned, / Than still contemned and flattered” (IV.i.1-2). Gloucester enters, urging the long-time old tenant accompanying him to leave for his own safety. Besides, “I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; / I stumbled when I saw” (IV.i.20-21). “It is the first hint of the birth within him of insight” (Goddard II 146). But it is a “slow acquirement of that better vision” (Goddard II 144), for his despair is nihilistic: “As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, / They kill us for their sport” (IV.i.38-39). He does openly reproach himself for turning away Edgar, who is horrified:
O gods! Who is ‘t can say ‘I am at the worst’?
I am worse than e’er I was.
. . .
And worse I may be yet; the worst is not
So long as we can say ‘This is the worst.’
(IV.i.27-30)SCENE iiGoneril invites Edmund into Albany’s palace, sniping about her “mild husband” (IV.ii.1). Oswald’s report indicates that Albany himself sympathizes with Lear, and Goneril considers him a coward. She and Edmund are to be the new item apparently, not just in their unity against France. “A fool usurps my bed” (IV.ii.28), she sneers.
Albany arrives, declaring to Goneril, “You are not worth the dust which the rude wind / Blows in your face” (IV.ii.31-32), so I don’t see a lot of hope for this marriage. There’s more. “Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile; / Filths savour but themselves” (IV.ii.39-40). Albany further laments that “Humanity must perforce prey on itself, / Like monsters of the deep” (IV.ii.50-51). Goneril calls him “Milk-livered man” (IV.ii.51), and the two exchange more recriminations.
A messenger brings news of Cornwall’s death from the wound sustained when blinding Gloucester, the latter which is horrific news to Albany. Goneril worries that Regan could snatch Edmund now. Albany hears of Edmund’s treachery and vows revenge.
SCENE iii
This scene appears only in the Quarto. Kent hears that the Marshal of France and the French army remain, but King of France has returned home, explaining why we never see him again. It is reported that Cordelia was dismayed but not histrionic by the news Kent had been giving in letters he had sent, including about those other “dog-hearted daughters” (IV.iii.46). Lear is in Dover.
SCENE iv
Cordelia sends soldiers to fetch Lear and hopes that the Doctor is right and that herbs will help restore Lear to sanity. A messenger reports that the British army approaches. Cordelia says that France has sympathized, and she apostrophizes, “O dear father, / It is thy business that I go about” (IV.iv.23-24), sounding a touch Christ-like. She offers a paradox: the coming war is based on love.
More logically, it’s not about ambition, but Lear’s “right” (IV.iv.28).SCENE v
Oswald tells Regan that Albany is reluctant to participate in the war against France. Regan regrets that Gloucester was allowed to live, since people are automatically moved by his plight. Regan also perceives what’s developing between Goneril and Edmund and wants her sister to knock it off: she herself as widow is in a better position to have Edmund. She recommends that Oswald kill Gloucester if he encounters him.
SCENE vi
Edgar brings Gloucester to Dover and pretends they are nearing the cliff. Gloucester detects an improvement in “Poor Tom’s” speech (IV.vi.7-8, 10). Edgar vividly describes the view from the edge of the cliff. Gloucester insists that he be left alone now. Edgar aside justifies his deception: “Why I do trifle thus with his despair / Is done to cure it” (IV.vi.33-34).
Gloucester, after privately blessing Edgar, thinks he is leaping and falls, passing out. When he comes to, Edgar, posing as another character, tells Gloucester he survived the fall off the cliff. The being leading him to the cliff looked life a fiend. Gloucester vows to be tolerant of fortune from now on.
The cliff scene can have various effects on audiences. It’s almost laughable slapstick but probably yielding in that case a kind of guilty nervous laughter. It can, however, come off as”sublime” (Garber 684). Gloucester’s physical fall brings a spiritual rise (Garber 685).
Lear enters, dressed oddly with weeds, and maybe flowers, pontificating and babbling madly about this and that. Gloucester despairs. Lear pardons an imaginary person, only afterwards asking the crime. Adultery? He claims that’s not criminal (IV.vi.108ff); Oxford would likely have agreed (Farina 204). After all, Lear indicates, legitimate children can prove wretches. He also rants, “To ‘t, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers” (IV.vi.115). “How that line … sums up the interest of dictators in the birth rate!” (Goddard II
Edgar starts to hide Gloucester safely, but Oswald enters and gloats about finding Gloucester, assuming that his own fortunes will rise by killing the old man. The still disguised Edgar defends Gloucester and fatally wounds Oswald, who gives him a letter to deliver to Edmund. Oswald dies. Edgar reads the letter from Goneril telling Edmund to kill Albany and marry her.Gloucester envies madness which might obscure griefs. As drums are heard, Edgar will move his father to a safe place.
English not being an appropriate designation for thirteen centuries yet, a reference to the “English party” (IV.vi.246) is an “inevitable anachronism” (Asimov II 45), but what are ya gonna do?
SCENE vii
Cordelia thanks Kent, but why does he insist on remaining in disguise now that the need for secrecy has vanished (Smidt 131)? Lear is brought in sleeping, and Cordelia expresses her devotion. When he first wakes up he thinks she’s an angel and he’s in purgatory: “You do me wrong to take me out o’ th’ grave” (IV.vii.45). Then, as he seems to start regaining his senses, Cordelia prevents him from kneeling before her.
I am a very foolish, fond old man,
Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less,
And to deal plainly,
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
(IV.vii.60-63)He recognizes Cordelia and is amazed that the daughter with the most to hate him for is being the kindest to him. He wonders if he’s in France, but Kent tells him he’s still in his own kingdom.
The whole reconciliation scene is done in the simplest language, with scarcely a poetic flight, scarcely a polysyllable, yet nowhere in Shakespeare, and, I believe, nowhere in literature, is the human heart so skillfully and ruthlessly torn in sympathy with what it sees and hears. (Asimov II 46)
Kent learns that he and Edgar are rumored to be in Germany. Edmund will lead Cornwall’s army into the bloody battle.
King Lear, Act by Act
King Lear Act IV