Act 4, Scene 4 - King Lear | Classic Literature
The same. A tent.
Enter, with drum and colours, Cordelia , Doctor , and Soldiers .
Cordelia
Alack, ’tis he: why, he was met even now
As mad as the vex’d sea; singing aloud;
Crown’d with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,
With bur-docks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow
In our sustaining corn. A century send forth;
Search every acre in the high-grown field,
And bring him to our eye. Exit an Officer.
What can man’s wisdom
In the restoring his bereaved sense?
He that helps him take all my outward worth.
Doctor
There is means, madam:
Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,
The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,
Are many simplesmedicinal herbs operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish.
Cordelia
All blest secrets,
All you unpublish’d virtues of the earth,
Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediateable to heal or provide a remedy
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.
Enter a Messenger .
Messenger
News, madam;
The British powers are marching hitherward.
Cordelia
’Tis known before; our preparation stands
In expectation of them. O dear father,
It is thy business that I go about;
Therefore great France
My mourning and important tears hath pitied.
No blownswollen or inflated; here describing ambition ambition doth our arms incite,
But love, dear love, and our aged father’s right:
Soon may I hear and see him! Exeunt.
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Previously Act 4, Scene 3: At the French camp, the Gentleman tells Kent why France has returned home and describes Cordelia's grief on reading letters about Lear. Kent explains that Lear's shame keeps him from seeing Cordelia and asks the Gentleman to attend him while Kent remains concealed.
Who's who so far Kent At the French camp, he explains that shame keeps Lear from Cordelia and arranges for the Gentleman to attend the king while he remains concealed. Gloucester Longing to meet the wronged Edgar, he gives money to the beggar he does not recognise as his son and asks to be led to the edge of Dover's cliff. Edmund He pledges himself to Goneril after her kiss and leaves to hasten Cornwall's forces, while a messenger later reports that he knows of Gloucester's blinding. King Lear Kent reports that he is in the town but refuses to see Cordelia because he is ashamed of his treatment of her. Cornwall A messenger reports that he has died from the wound inflicted by the servant who opposed Gloucester's blinding. Albany He condemns Goneril's treatment of Lear and vows to avenge Gloucester's blinding after hearing of Cornwall's death and Edmund's betrayal. Goneril She kisses Edmund, scorns Albany's condemnation of her treatment of Lear and privately fears that the widowed Regan may threaten her hopes concerning Edmund. Regan Cornwall's reported death leaves her widowed, prompting Goneril to fear her as a rival for Edmund. Cordelia The Gentleman reports her tears and grief at Lear's treatment after she reads letters in his presence. KF King of France The Gentleman reports that urgent affairs of state have recalled him to France, leaving Monsieur La Far in command. B Burgundy Cordelia's suitor, who withdraws when Lear refuses to give her the marriage portion he had offered. Edgar Shaken by the sight of his blinded father, he struggles to maintain his disguise as poor Tom but agrees to guide Gloucester towards Dover. Oswald Attacked by Kent outside Gloucester's castle, he presents Kent's earlier violence as an attempt to flatter Lear and receives Regan's support. K The Knight One of Lear's followers, who reports the household's declining respect for the king and says the Fool has been grieving since Cordelia left. Fool He plays along with Lear's imaginary trial and is called upon by Kent to help carry the sleeping king to safety. G The Gentleman He describes Cordelia's grief on reading letters about Lear and learns why Lear refuses to see her. C Curan He tells Edmund that Cornwall and Regan are coming to Gloucester's castle and reports rumours of war between Cornwall and Albany. FS First servant He has served Cornwall since childhood and is killed by Regan from behind when he fights his master to stop Gloucester's blinding. SS Second servant Horrified by Cornwall's cruelty, he proposes following Gloucester and finding the disguised beggar to guide him. TS Third servant He condemns Regan's cruelty and goes to fetch flax and egg whites for Gloucester's bleeding face. OM The Old Man A longstanding tenant of Gloucester and his father, he guides the blinded earl and promises to fetch clothes for poor Tom despite the danger. MT The Messenger to Albany He reports Cornwall's death and Gloucester's blinding to Albany, brings Goneril a letter from Regan and identifies Edmund as the informer against his father. D The Doctor new He tells Cordelia that Lear needs sleep and that medicinal herbs can help bring it. MT The Messenger to Cordelia new He brings Cordelia news that the British forces are marching towards the French camp. Words to know
simples medicinal herbs
remediate able to heal or provide a remedy
blown swollen or inflated; here describing ambition Spoiler-free: these notes only cover what you have read.
Act 4, Scene 4 in brief In a tent at the French camp, Cordelia describes a recent report of Lear singing wildly with weeds and flowers on his head. She sends soldiers to search the fields and offers all her wealth to anyone who can restore his reason. The Doctor answers her appeal with a practical account of the sleep Lear lacks and the herbs that may bring it. Cordelia's prayer turns the earth's hidden healing powers towards the care of her father, while her fear that his uncontrolled distress may kill him makes the search urgent. A messenger announces the approach of the British forces, for which Cordelia says preparations are already made. She declares that France has responded to her tears and that love and her father's rights, rather than swollen ambition, have brought her to arms.
Key quotes Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,
The which he lacks; Why it matters The Doctor presents sleep as a nurturing power that Lear needs. His plain prescription gives Cordelia a practical answer to her urgent appeal for help.Nature, fate and responsibility Judgement, folly and madness
No blown ambition doth our arms incite,
But love, dear love, and our aged father’s right: Why it matters Cordelia states the purpose of her military action in the language of family care and rightful authority. The repetition of love places her personal concern beside the public question of Lear's rights.Family love and duty Power and authority
Themes in this chapter Family love and duty Nature, fate and responsibility Judgement, folly and madness Power and authority
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Contents ×
Act 2
Act 2, Scene 1 5 min Act 2, Scene 2 6 min Act 2, Scene 3 1 min Act 2, Scene 4 11 min Act 3
Act 3, Scene 1 2 min Act 3, Scene 2 3 min Act 3, Scene 3 1 min Act 3, Scene 4 7 min Act 3, Scene 5 1 min Act 3, Scene 6 4 min Act 3, Scene 7 4 min Act 4
Act 4, Scene 1 3 min Act 4, Scene 2 3 min Act 4, Scene 3 2 min Act 4, Scene 4 1 min Act 4, Scene 5 1 min Act 4, Scene 6 10 min Act 4, Scene 7 4 min Act 5
Act 5, Scene 1 3 min Act 5, Scene 2 1 min Act 5, Scene 3 12 min Full contents of King Lear Text settings ×
Picked up where you left off Start of chapter