In disguise as Caius he is blunter and rougher than the Kent of 1-1 — the disguise seems to give him permission for directness. His tripping of Oswald is physical comedy, but it's also the first act of service: he's defending Lear before Lear knows who he is.
If but as well I other accents borrow,
That can my speech defuse, my good intent
May carry through itself to that full issue
For which I rais’d my likeness. Now, banish’d Kent,
If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn’d,
So may it come, thy master, whom thou lov’st,
Shall find thee full of labours.
Horns within. Enter King
Lear, Knights and Attendants.
If I can just borrow these other accents well enough to disguise my speech, then my good intentions can work through fully for what I changed my appearance for. Now, banished Kent, if you can serve where you stand condemned, let it happen that your master, whom you love, will find you full of hard work.
If I can pull off these accents and hide who I really am, I can get my plan across. Now that I'm banished, if I can work for the king even though he's condemned me, maybe he'll find that I'm a seriously hard worker.
gotta nail the accent change myself up if the king lets me serve him i'll work my ass off for him
Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go get it ready.
Don't make me wait even a moment for dinner; go get it ready now.
I'm not waiting around for dinner—go get it made. Now.
i'm starving no waiting make dinner now
How now! what art thou?
Well now, who are you?
Who are you?
who r u?
A man, sir.
A man, sir.
I'm a man, sir.
just a guy
What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with us?
What's your profession? What do you want from us?
What's your job? What are you after?
who are you? what do you want?
I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve him truly that
will put me in trust; to love him that is honest; to converse
with him that is wise and says little; to fear judgement; to fight
when I cannot choose; and to eat no fish.
I claim to be exactly what I appear to be; to serve truly anyone who puts trust in me; to love anyone honest; to talk with anyone who is wise and speaks little; to fear judgment; to fight when I have no choice; and to eat no fish.
I'm exactly what I look like—I'll serve anyone who trusts me faithfully. I'll respect honest people, spend time with wise people who don't talk much, respect good judgment, fight when I have to, and I don't eat fish.
i'm what i look like loyal to those who trust me honest and no bullshit will fight when needed no fish though
What art thou?
What are you?
Who are you really?
who are you?
A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the King.
A man with a genuine, honest heart, and one with just as little money as the King.
I'm an honest guy, and I'm about as poor as you are, Your Majesty.
honest dude and broke like you
If thou be’st as poor for a subject as he’s for a king, thou art
poor enough. What wouldst thou?
If you're as poor for a subject as he is for a king, you're poor indeed. What do you want?
If you're as broke as the king is as a king—yeah, that's pretty broke. So what do you want?
broke king = very broke what's your deal?
Service.
Service.
To serve you.
i wanna work for you
Who wouldst thou serve?
Who would you serve?
Who do you want to work for?
whose side you on?
You.
You.
You, Your Majesty.
you boss
Dost thou know me, fellow?
Do you know who I am, fellow?
Have we met before? Do you recognize me?
you recognize me?
No, sir; but you have that in your countenance which I would fain
call master.
No, sir; but your face shows something that I would gladly call master.
No sir, I don't know you. But there's something in the way you carry yourself that looks like someone in charge.
nah but you got that boss energy in your face
What’s that?
What's that?
What do you mean?
what do you mean?
Authority.
Authority.
Authority. The look of someone who's in charge.
authority power
What services canst thou do?
What services can you perform?
What can you actually do?
so what's your skillset?
I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale in
telling it and deliver a plain message bluntly. That which
ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in, and the best of
me is diligence.
I can keep confidences, I can ride and run, I'm skilled at spoiling a good story by telling it badly, and I deliver plain messages bluntly. Whatever ordinary people are suited for, I'm qualified in it, and my greatest strength is my diligence.
I'm good at keeping secrets, I can ride and run, I'm terrible at telling a story without ruining it, and I always speak plainly and directly. I can do anything that regular servants are meant to do—and really, what I've got going for me is just hard work and dedication.
i keep secrets i ride i run i ruin stories telling them straight talk always i'm just diligent
How old art thou?
How old are you?
What's your age?
how old?
Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing; nor so old to
dote on her for anything: I have years on my back forty-eight.
Not so young that I'd fall for a woman just because of her voice; not so old that I'd be foolishly devoted to one anyway. I'm forty-eight years old.
I'm not young enough to be dazzled by a pretty voice, and I'm not so old that I'm losing my head over women. I'm forty-eight.
not young enough to fall for a voice not old enough to be a fool i'm 48
Follow me; thou shalt serve me. If I like thee no worse after dinner, I
will not part from thee yet. Dinner, ho, dinner! Where’s my knave? my
fool? Go you and call my fool hither.
Follow me; you'll serve me. If I don't like you any worse after dinner, I won't let you go yet. Dinner, come on, dinner! Where's my servant? My fool? Go call my fool here.
Follow me—you're hired. If I still think you're decent after dinner, I'll keep you around. Speaking of dinner—where is it? And where's my fool? Go get him in here.
you're in follow me we'll see after dinner where's my fool tho go get him
You, you, sirrah, where’s my daughter?
You there, servant, where is my daughter?
Hey you! Where's my daughter at?
where's my daughter?
So please you,—
If it please you,—
If it suits you,—
whatever you want—
What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll back.
What did that fool say? Call that idiot back.
What was that guy saying? Bring that idiot back here.
what did he say? call that dumbass back
Where’s my fool? Ho, I think the world’s asleep.
Where is my fool? I think the world has fallen asleep.
Where's my fool? I think everyone's dead asleep.
where's my fool? everyone's asleep
How now! where’s that mongrel?
What now! Where is that worthless wretch?
What's happening? Where's that bastard?
where's that bastard?
He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.
According to him, my lord, your daughter is not in good health.
He said your daughter isn't feeling well, sir.
your daughter she's sick
Why came not the slave back to me when I called him?
Why didn't that slave come back to me when I called?
Why didn't he come back when I called him?
why didn't he come when i called? where's his respect
Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner, he would not.
Sir, he answered me in the most direct manner: he would not.
Sir, he flat out refused. Just said no.
he said no straight up refused no excuses
He would not?
He would not?
He refused?
he said no?
My lord, I know not what the matter is; but to my judgement your
highness is not entertained with that ceremonious affection as
you were wont; there’s a great abatement of kindness appears as
well in the general dependants as in the Duke himself also, and
your daughter.
My lord, I don't know what's going on; but as I see it, your highness isn't being treated with the formal respect you used to receive. There's clearly less kindness now, both among your followers and from the Duke himself and your daughter.
Your Majesty, I don't know exactly what's happening, but I've noticed you're not getting the same respect and formal treatment you used to. People—your followers, the Duke, your daughter—they all seem less kind to you now.
something's wrong here people aren't respecting you like they used to everyone's colder
Ha! say’st thou so?
Ha! Is that so?
Really? You think so?
really?
I beseech you pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken; for my duty
cannot be silent when I think your highness wronged.
I beg your pardon, my lord, if I'm mistaken; but I can't stay silent when I think you're being wronged.
I'm sorry if I'm wrong about this, sir, but I'd be failing in my duty if I didn't speak up when I think you're being treated badly.
sorry if i'm wrong but i gotta say it you're being disrespected
Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception: I have perceived
a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blamed as mine
own jealous curiosity than as a very pretence and purpose of
unkindness: I will look further into’t. But where’s my fool? I
have not seen him this two days.
You're just reminding me of something I already suspected: I've noticed a very slight neglect lately, which I blamed on my own jealous suspicions rather than on actual intentional unkindness. I'll look into it further. But where's my fool? I haven't seen him in two days.
Yeah, I've been feeling that too. I thought maybe I was just being paranoid, but there does seem to be less warmth around here. I'll figure out what's going on. Anyway, where's my fool? I haven't seen him for two days.
i noticed too people are colder but i wasn't sure where's my fool tho? haven't seen him in days
Since my young lady’s going into France, sir, the fool hath much
pined away.
Since your young lady went to France, sir, the fool has been deeply depressed.
Well, ever since your daughter left for France, the fool's been really down about it.
the fool's been sad since your daughter left for france
No more of that; I have noted it well. Go you and tell my
daughter I would speak with her.
Don't mention it anymore; I've noted it well. Go tell my daughter I want to speak with her.
Let's drop that. I've heard enough. Go tell my daughter I want to see her.
enough tell my daughter i need to talk to her
Go you, call hither my fool.
Go call my fool here for me.
Go call my fool.
call my fool
O, you, sir, you, come you hither, sir: who am I, sir?
You, yes you, sir! Come here: who am I, sir?
You there, come here! Who am I?
get over here who am i?
My lady’s father.
My lady's father.
My lady's father.
you're goneril's dad
The Fool is the only character in the play who can tell Lear the truth directly. Everyone else who tries — Cordelia, Kent — is expelled. The Fool survives, for a while, because his role gives him immunity: a licensed fool exists specifically to say uncomfortable things. His social function is to puncture pomposity, so his puncturing of Lear is officially sanctioned.
But notice the way he does it: never in plain statement, always in riddles, proverbs, songs. 'All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with' is devastating — but it's a joke. Lear can absorb it as a joke in a way he couldn't absorb Kent's plain speech.
The Fool knows exactly what he's doing. He says things like 'he that will not when he may, when he will he shall have nay' — which means precisely what Kent said in 1-1, translated into a nursery rhyme. The same truth, the same moment, but packaged in a form that can't be directly punished.
His grief for Cordelia ('since my young lady's going into France, the Fool hath much pined away') is one of the play's quietest and most important details. The Fool loved Cordelia. He knows what was lost in 1-1. Everything he says to Lear comes from this: someone who cares enough to keep saying the hard thing, in a form the king can almost bear to hear.
My lady’s father! my lord’s knave: you whoreson dog! you slave! you
cur!
My lady's father? You're my lord's servant—you worthless dog! You slave! You cur!
My lady's father? My lady's servant, you mean! You disgusting dog, you slave, you coward!
my lady's father?? you're her servant you're a dog trash
I am none of these, my lord; I beseech your pardon.
I'm none of these, my lord; I beg your pardon.
I'm not any of those things, sir; I'm sorry.
i'm not those things sorry
Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?
Are you defying me with your looks, you rascal?
Are you staring me down, you trash?
you staring me down? fuck off
I’ll not be struck, my lord.
I won't allow myself to be struck, my lord.
I'm not letting you hit me, sir.
don't you dare hit me
Nor tripp’d neither, you base football player.
And you won't be tripped either, you lowborn football player.
And nobody's tripping you up either, you common football player.
and nobody'll trip you up you lowlife football guy
I thank thee, fellow. Thou serv’st me, and I’ll love thee.
I thank you, fellow. You serve me, and I'll love you for it.
I thank you, fellow. You're loyal to me, and I appreciate that.
thanks man you're on my side i got your back
Come, sir, arise, away! I’ll teach you differences: away, away! If you
will measure your lubber’s length again, tarry; but away! go to; have
you wisdom? So.
Come on, sir, get up, get away! I'll teach you your place: away, away! If you lie down again, stay there; but get going! Go on; do you have any sense? There.
Get up and get out of here! I'm going to teach you a lesson. Go! If you lay down again, I'll keep beating you. Just get out of here. Do you have any brains? Fine.
get up get out i'm teaching you a lesson just go
Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there’s earnest of thy service.
Now, my friend, I thank you: here's a down payment on your service.
You're my kind of guy. Here's some money up front for working for me.
thanks buddy here's some cash for working for me
Let me hire him too; here’s my coxcomb.
Let me hire him too; here's my fool's cap.
I want to hire him as a fool too; here's my cap—seems like he needs it more than I do.
hire this guy too take my fool's hat he's the real fool
How now, my pretty knave, how dost thou?
How now, my pretty servant, how are you?
Well, hello my fool. How are you doing?
hey fool what's up?
Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.
Fellow, you'd better take my fool's cap.
You should take this fool's cap—it looks like you need it more than I do.
you should take my cap seems like you're the fool now
Why, fool?
Why, fool?
Why would I do that?
why tho?
Why, for taking one’s part that’s out of favour. Nay, an thou
canst not smile as the wind sits, thou’lt catch cold shortly:
there, take my coxcomb: why, this fellow has banish’d two on’s
daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will; if
thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb. How now,
nuncle! Would I had two coxcombs and two daughters!
Why, for siding with someone who's fallen out of favor. Listen, if you can't smile at the right times, you'll catch cold soon: here, take my cap. Why, this man has banished two of his daughters, and gave the third a blessing against his will. If you follow him, you must wear my fool's cap. Now uncle, I wish I had two caps and two daughters!
Because you're backing someone who's lost his power. And if you can't change with the wind, you'll freeze. Look, this king has kicked out two daughters and reluctantly blessed the third. If you follow him, you're going to be a fool too. Uncle, I wish I had two fool's caps and two daughters!
you're backing a loser wind's shifting bro this guy gave his crown away so now you're a fool too wish i had two caps and daughters
Why, my boy?
Why, my boy? What do you mean?
What do you mean, my boy?
what do you mean?
If I gave them all my living, I’d keep my coxcombs myself. There’s
mine; beg another of thy daughters.
If I gave away all my wealth, I'd still keep my fool's caps for myself. Here's mine; go ask your daughters for another one.
If I gave everything away, I'd at least keep my own fool's cap. This one's mine; go ask your daughters for another one.
i'd keep my stuff if i gave it all away keep your caps don't give everything away
Take heed, sirrah, the whip.
Watch out, fellow, I have the whip.
Be careful—I can whip you, you know.
watch it or i'll whip you
Truth’s a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when
the Lady Brach may stand by the fire and stink.
Truth is a dog that must go to the kennel; truth must be whipped out of sight, while Lady Lies gets to stand by the fire and stink.
Truth-telling is treated like a dog—it gets kicked outside and beaten. But lies? They get to sit by the fire and stink up the place.
truth gets kicked out whipped away while lies get warm by the fire welcome everywhere
A pestilent gall to me!
A bothersome nuisance to me!
You drive me crazy!
you're annoying waste of time
Sirrah, I’ll teach thee a speech.
Fellow, I'll teach you a speech.
I'm going to teach you something, buddy.
i'm gonna teach you smth
Do.
Do it.
Go on then.
do it
Mark it, nuncle:
Have more than thou showest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest,
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest;
Leave thy drink and thy whore,
And keep in-a-door,
And thou shalt have more
Than two tens to a score.
Listen, uncle: Keep more than you show, Speak less than you know, Give less than you owe, Ride more than you walk, Learn more than you believe, Bet less than you throw; Give up your drinking and women, And stay safely inside, And you'll have more Than twenty in your pocket.
Pay attention: Keep your money hidden, Don't say everything you know, Give away less than you've got, Travel more than you walk, Learn beyond what you think, Bet smaller than your winnings; Quit drinking and messing around, Stay home and safe, And you'll end up richer Than most people.
hide your money shut up don't give too much travel learn stuff bet smart quit drinking stay inside get rich
This is nothing, fool.
That speech amounts to nothing of value, fool.
That's nonsense, fool.
that's bs
Then ’tis like the breath of an unfee’d lawyer, you gave me
nothing for’t. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle?
Then it's like the breath of an unpaid lawyer—you gave me nothing for it. Can you make no use of nothing, uncle?
Then it's worthless, like an unpaid lawyer's advice. You gave me nothing, and now I'm giving you nothing. Can you do anything with nothing?
you gave nothing i gave nothing can you use nothing?
Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing.
Well, no, boy; nothing can be made from nothing.
No, of course not—you can't make something from nothing.
nah can't make something from nothing
[_to Kent._] Prithee tell him, so much the rent of his land
comes to: he will not believe a fool.
Please tell him that's how much his land rent amounts to. He won't believe it from a fool.
Tell him that's exactly how much money his land brings in now. He won't listen if I say it.
tell him his land's worth nothing he won't believe me
A bitter fool.
A bitter fool.
A bitter fool indeed.
you're bitter
Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and
a sweet one?
Do you know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and a sweet one?
Do you know what the difference is between a bitter fool and a sweet one?
you know the difference between bitter and sweet fool?
No, lad; teach me.
No, son; teach me.
No, I don't; teach me.
nah teach me
That lord that counsell’d thee
To give away thy land,
Come place him here by me,
Do thou for him stand.
The sweet and bitter fool
Will presently appear;
The one in motley here,
The other found out there.
That lord who advised you To give away your land, Come place him here beside me, You stand in for him. The sweet and bitter fool Will now appear; One in motley here, The other found out there.
That adviser who told you to give away your kingdom—bring him here next to me, and you take his place. Then you'll see the two kinds of fools clearly: one in costume here with us, the other revealed out there in the world.
bring the guy who told you to give away your crown stand in his place and you'll see both kinds of fools one fake here one real out there
Dost thou call me fool, boy?
Are you calling me a fool, boy?
Did you just call me foolish?
you just called me stupid?
All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born
with.
You've given away all your other titles; this one was the one you were born with.
You've given away every title you had except this one—and you were born with that one.
you gave away all your titles fool is the only one left the one you were born with
This is not altogether fool, my lord.
This fool is not entirely foolish, my lord.
The fool's actually making sense here, sir.
he's making a point actually
No, faith; lords and great men will not let me; if I had a
monopoly out, they would have part on’t and ladies too, they
will not let me have all the fool to myself; they’ll be
snatching. Nuncle, give me an egg, and I’ll give thee two
crowns.
No, truly; lords and great men won't let me be the only fool; if I had a monopoly on foolishness, they'd claim part of it, and the ladies too—they won't let me have all the fool to myself; they'll be grabbing for it. Uncle, give me an egg, and I'll give you two crowns.
No way; nobles and great people want to be fools too. If I had a fool monopoly, they'd all want a piece of it. They won't let me have all the foolishness to myself. Hey uncle, give me an egg and I'll give you two crowns.
nobody lets me be the only fool everybody wants to be foolish uncle gimme an egg and i'll give you treasure
What two crowns shall they be?
What two crowns are those?
What do you mean, two crowns?
what crowns?
Why, after I have cut the egg i’ the middle and eat up the
meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i’
the middle and gav’st away both parts, thou bor’st thine ass on
thy back o’er the dirt: thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown
when thou gav’st thy golden one away. If I speak like myself in
this, let him be whipped that first finds it so.
Why, after I cut the egg in half and eat the meat, the two shell halves are the two crowns. When you split your crown in the middle and gave away both parts, you carried your own burden over the dirt. You had little wisdom in your bare head when you gave away your golden crown. If I'm speaking like a real fool here, let whoever first points it out be whipped.
Well, after I cut the egg in half and eat it, the two eggshell halves become crowns. When you split your kingdom in half and gave both parts away, you ended up carrying your own weight through the mud. You must have no brains if you gave away your real crown. And if what I'm saying sounds foolish, whoever says so first should be whipped.
eggshell halves = crowns you split your crown gave it away now you're carrying yourself no wisdom in that move
Fools had ne’er less grace in a year;
For wise men are grown foppish,
And know not how their wits to wear,
Their manners are so apish.
Fools have never been in less favor this year. Because wise men have become foolish, And don't know how to display their wit, Their behavior has become so crude and apelike.
Fools have never been less respected. Because the wise men have all become fools, And don't know how to show their wisdom, Their manners have become so crude.
fools have no respect wise men act foolish now they don't show wisdom their manners are crude
When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?
When did you start being so full of songs, fellow?
When did you become such a singer?
when'd you start with all the songs?
I have used it, nuncle, e’er since thou mad’st thy daughters thy
mothers; for when thou gav’st them the rod, and put’st down thine
own breeches,
I've been doing it, uncle, ever since you made your daughters your superiors; for when you gave them the power and took down your own authority,
I've been singing since you let your daughters run things, uncle. When you handed them the power and gave up your own authority—
since you made your daughters the bosses gave them power gave up yours
Then they for sudden joy did weep,
And I for sorrow sung,
That such a king should play bo-peep,
And go the fools among.
Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy fool to
lie; I would fain learn to lie.
Then they wept from sudden joy, And I sang from sorrow, That such a king should play children's games, And go about like a fool. Please, uncle, hire a teacher to teach your fool to lie; I would very much like to learn to lie.
Then they cried happy tears, And I sang with sorrow, Because such a great king acts like a child, And goes around like a fool. Please, uncle, get someone to teach your fool to lie; I'd really love to learn to lie.
they cried with joy i sang with sorrow the king plays like a child teach me to lie uncle i'd love to learn how
An you lie, sirrah, we’ll have you whipped.
If you're lying, fellow, we'll have you whipped.
If you're making that up, we'll whip you.
you're lying you're getting whipped
I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are: they’ll have me
whipped for speaking true; thou’lt have me whipped for lying;
and sometimes I am whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be
any kind o’thing than a fool: and yet I would not be thee,
nuncle: thou hast pared thy wit o’both sides, and left nothing
i’ the middle: here comes one o’ the parings.
I wonder what family connection you and your daughters share: they'll have me whipped for telling the truth; you'll have me whipped for lying; and sometimes I'm whipped for staying silent. I'd rather be any kind of thing than a fool—and yet I wouldn't be you, uncle: you've scraped off all your wisdom from both sides and left nothing in the middle. Here comes one of the pieces you gave away.
It's crazy—your daughters will whip me for telling the truth, you'll whip me for lying, and I even get whipped sometimes for keeping quiet. I'd rather be anything but a fool. But honestly, I wouldn't want to be you either, uncle. You've given away all your wisdom from every side and left yourself empty. And here comes your daughter now—one of those pieces of yourself you gave away.
can't win whipped for truth whipped for lies whipped for silence wouldn't be you you gave everything away nothing left
Kent is banished on pain of death in 1-1. He has ten days to leave the kingdom. In 1-4, he's back — disguised, using a different accent, calling himself Caius. He has returned to serve the man who exiled him.
This is not a tactical calculation. Kent doesn't expect recognition, reward, or reinstatement. He comes back because Lear needs him — and because Kent's identity is constituted by that service. He's not loyal because it benefits him. He's loyal because it's what he is.
The play puts this loyalty under enormous pressure. Kent watches Lear make catastrophic decisions. He watches him turn on Cordelia, believe the flattery of Goneril and Regan, and walk into every trap. He serves him through all of it, as Caius, invisible. His patience with Lear's failures is almost incomprehensible — and that's the point. Genuine loyalty doesn't become conditional when the person you're loyal to makes mistakes.
The contrast with Goneril and Regan is absolute. Their love was conditional from the first line of their speeches: it was performed to obtain something. Kent's loyalty has no object beyond service itself. The play uses this contrast to define what love actually means — by showing what it looks like when it's real.
How now, daughter? What makes that frontlet on? Methinks you
are too much of late i’ the frown.
How now, daughter? What's with that frown on your face? Lately you seem to frown too much.
Hey daughter, what's with all the frowning? You've been looking pretty unhappy lately.
why you frowning? what's with the sad face? lately you look angry
Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to care for
her frowning. Now thou art an O without a figure: I am better
than thou art now. I am a fool, thou art nothing. [_To Goneril._]
Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue. So your face bids me, though
you say nothing. Mum, mum,
He that keeps nor crust nor crum,
Weary of all, shall want some.
[_Pointing to Lear_.] That’s a shealed peascod.
You were fine when you didn't need to worry about her frowning. Now you're a zero with no value. I'm better off than you are now. I'm a fool by profession, and you've become nothing. [To Goneril:] Yes, I'll stay quiet. Your face tells me to, even without words. Quiet now—he who gives away everything will still end up wanting something. [Pointing to Lear:] That's an empty peapod.
You were doing fine when you didn't have to care about her getting mad. Now you're a big zero, worthless. I'm in a better spot than you now. I'm a fool, and you've become absolutely nothing. [To Goneril:] Fine, yes, I'll shut up. Your face is telling me to anyway, without saying anything. If you give away everything, you'll still end up needing something. [Points to Lear:] There's an empty shell.
you were fine til she frowned now you're zero i'm better than you you're nothing i'll shut up your face says so he gave everything away now he's empty
Not only, sir, this your all-licens’d fool,
But other of your insolent retinue
Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth
In rank and not-to-be-endured riots. Sir,
I had thought, by making this well known unto you,
To have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful,
By what yourself too late have spoke and done,
That you protect this course, and put it on
By your allowance; which if you should, the fault
Would not scape censure, nor the redresses sleep,
Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,
Might in their working do you that offence
Which else were shame, that then necessity
Will call discreet proceeding.
Not only this fool of yours who's allowed to say whatever he wants, but your other rude followers too are constantly complaining and arguing, breaking out in vulgar and unbearable riots. Sir, I thought that by making this problem known to you, I'd find a safe way to fix it. But now I'm afraid that by what you yourself have recently said and done, you're protecting and encouraging this behavior. And if you do, the fault won't escape judgment, and serious measures will be taken—which, in order to protect the health of the kingdom, might do you harm that would otherwise be shameful, though now it will be called necessary and proper action.
Sir, it's not just this fool you let say whatever he wants. All your followers are rowdy, they're constantly arguing and causing riots that nobody can stand. I thought telling you about it would get it fixed quickly. But now I'm worried that you actually support this behavior—that you're allowing and even encouraging it. If you do, people are going to judge you harshly for it. And there will be consequences—real ones. The court might have to take action to protect the kingdom, and unfortunately, that action might hurt you. But at this point, it'll be seen as necessary.
it's not just the fool your whole staff is wild constant fighting and riots i thought you'd fix it but you're cool with it? people will judge you there will be consequences
For you know, nuncle,
The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long
That it’s had it head bit off by it young.
So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.
You know, uncle, The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long That the young cuckoo bit off her head. So the light went out, and we were left in darkness.
Listen uncle, There was this sparrow who raised a cuckoo And fed it for so long That the cuckoo's chick ended up killing her. The light went out, And everything went dark.
sparrow fed a cuckoo raised it but the cuckoo killed her light went out everything's dark now that's you
Are you our daughter?
Are you truly my daughter?
I can't believe you're actually my daughter.
are you really my daughter?
Come, sir,
I would you would make use of that good wisdom,
Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away
These dispositions, which of late transform you
From what you rightly are.
Come, sir, I wish you would use that good wisdom I know you possess and give up these behaviors that have lately changed you from who you really are.
Come on, sir. I know you're a wise man. Why don't you actually use that wisdom? And stop with these strange moods that have made you act so unlike yourself lately.
use your wisdom stop being weird you're not yourself this isn't who you are
May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse? Whoop, Jug! I
love thee!
Can't a donkey tell when the cart's pulling the horse instead of the other way around? Whoop, Jug! I love you!
Isn't it obvious when things are backwards—when the cart's pulling the horse? Whoop, Jug! I love you!
everything's backwards cart pulling horse world's insane whoop!
Doth any here know me? This is not Lear;
Doth Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?
Either his notion weakens, his discernings
Are lethargied. Ha! waking? ’Tis not so!
Who is it that can tell me who I am?
Does anyone here know me? I'm not acting like Lear. Would Lear walk like this? Talk like this? Where's my mind? Either I'm losing my wits or I'm asleep. Wait—am I even awake? This can't be right. Who can tell me who I am?
Does anybody here recognize me? I'm not acting like Lear. Would Lear walk like this? Talk like this? Where's my mind? Either I'm losing my wits or I'm in a dream. Wait—am I even awake? This can't be right. Who am I anymore?
i'm not me i don't act like myself where's my mind am i awake? who am i?
Lear’s shadow.
Just Lear's shadow.
Lear's shadow, basically.
just his shadow
I would learn that; for by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge and
reason, I should be false persuaded I had daughters.
I'd like to learn that; because based on the signs of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason, I'd be completely deceived into thinking I actually had daughters.
I'd love to learn that. Because based on wisdom and reason, I'd be totally fooled into thinking I had daughters.
i'd like to know that based on wisdom i'd think i had daughters
Which they will make an obedient father.
Which would make him an obedient father.
That'll turn him into an obedient father.
which will make him obedient
Your name, fair gentlewoman?
What is your name, fair lady?
What's your name?
who are you?
This admiration, sir, is much o’ the favour
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright:
As you are old and reverend, you should be wise.
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;
Men so disorder’d, so debosh’d and bold
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust
Makes it more like a tavern or a brothel
Than a grac’d palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy. Be, then, desir’d
By her that else will take the thing she begs
A little to disquantity your train;
And the remainder that shall still depend,
To be such men as may besort your age,
Which know themselves, and you.
Sir, your admiration is much like your other new pranks. I beg you to understand my purposes correctly: since you are old and respected, you should be wise. You keep a hundred knights and squires here; men so unruly, so debauched and bold that this court of ours, infected by their behavior, looks like a wild inn. Excessive eating and lust make it look more like a tavern or a brothel than a respectable palace. The shame itself speaks for its need of immediate remedy. So I am asking you—I, who could otherwise take what I ask for—to reduce your train somewhat; and let those who remain dependent on you be men suited to your age, men who know themselves and you.
Sir, this admiration of yours is just like your other wild schemes. Please understand what I'm trying to say: you're old and should be wise. You have a hundred knights and squires here, and they're out of control—reckless and bold. They've infected this court with their behavior, making it look like some wild inn instead of a respectable palace. It's more like a tavern or a brothel, honestly. The shame is obvious, so it needs fixing immediately. I'm asking you—and I could demand this instead—to cut down your group of followers. The ones who stay should be men who fit your age and know how to behave.
your knights are out of control making the court look like a brothel. cut them down or i'll make you
Darkness and devils!
Saddle my horses; call my train together.
Degenerate bastard! I’ll not trouble thee:
Yet have I left a daughter.
Darkness and devils! Saddle my horses; gather my followers. Degenerate bastard! I won't trouble you anymore: I still have another daughter.
Hell and damnation! Get my horses saddled and gather my men. You degenerate bastard! I won't bother you anymore—I have another daughter.
saddle my horses i'm out of here. degenerate bastard. i have another daughter
You strike my people; and your disorder’d rabble
Make servants of their betters.
You hit my servants; and your unruly mob makes them servants to their superiors.
You hit my people, and your rowdy mob treats their betters like servants.
you strike my people & your rabble disrespects them
Woe that too late repents!—
Misery to those who regret too late!
Curse those who realize their mistakes too late!
curse those who regret too late
[_To Albany._] O, sir, are you come?
Is it your will? Speak, sir.—Prepare my horses.
Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend,
More hideous when thou show’st thee in a child
Than the sea-monster!
Are you here, sir? Is this your doing? Speak! Prepare my horses. Ingratitude, you heartless demon—you're more monstrous and hideous coming from a child than any sea creature could ever be!
Are you here, sir? Is this your doing? Tell me! Get my horses ready. Ungrateful daughter, you have no heart—nothing's uglier or more terrible than this cruelty from a child. It's worse than any monster!
are you part of this saddle my horses ungrateful you have no heart worse than any monster
Pray, sir, be patient.
Please, sir, be patient.
Sir, please calm down.
please chill
[_to Goneril._] Detested kite, thou liest.
My train are men of choice and rarest parts,
That all particulars of duty know;
And in the most exact regard support
The worships of their name. O most small fault,
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!
Which, like an engine, wrench’d my frame of nature
From the fix’d place; drew from my heart all love,
And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear!
Lying wretch! You're wrong. My followers are men of the finest quality, carefully chosen, who know every aspect of proper duty and maintain their honor with perfect precision. That tiny flaw in Cordelia—how hideously ingratitude showed itself in her! Like a machine, it wrenched my nature from its foundation, pulled all love from my heart and filled it with bitterness instead. Oh Lear, Lear, Lear!
You're lying! My men are the best of the best—carefully picked, they know how to act with honor and they maintain their dignity perfectly. But that small thing in Cordelia—it showed me how ugly and terrible ingratitude really is! It twisted my whole being inside out, ripped all love from my heart and replaced it with bitterness. Oh, what have I done? Lear, Lear, Lear!
you lie my men are the best they know honor cordelia's rejection showed how ugly ingratitude is tore my heart out replaced love with bitterness oh lear
[_Striking his head._] Beat at this gate that let thy folly in
And thy dear judgement out! Go, go, my people.
Strike at this gate—this head—that let foolishness in and drove good judgment out! Go, go, my people.
Hit this head—the gate that let my foolishness in and let my wisdom out! Come on, go, everyone.
strike this head let foolishness in let wisdom out let's go
My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant
Of what hath moved you.
My lord, I am innocent, as I am unaware of what has upset you.
My lord, I'm innocent—I have no idea what's bothering you.
i'm innocent i don't know what's wrong
It may be so, my lord.
Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful!
Into her womb convey sterility!
Dry up in her the organs of increase;
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honour her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen, that it may live
And be a thwart disnatur’d torment to her!
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks;
Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
To have a thankless child! Away, away!
That may be so, my lord. Listen, nature, hear me; dear goddess, listen! Stop what you're planning, if you intended to make this creature fertile! Pour sterility into her womb! Dry up in her the organs of reproduction; and from her degraded body let no baby ever spring to honor her! If she must bear children, create them from malice, so they may live and be a twisted, unnatural torment to her! Let them stamp wrinkles into her youthful forehead; with falling tears carve channels in her cheeks; turn all her mother's pains and care into laughter and contempt; so she can feel how much sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have an ungrateful child! Go away, go away!
Maybe you're right, my lord. Listen, nature, listen to me; dear goddess, hear this! Stop your plan if you meant to make her fertile. Make her sterile instead! Dry up her womb; let no children come from her to honor her. If she does have kids, make them twisted and cruel to her—let them age her, scar her, turn her sacrifice into ridicule. Let her feel how much worse than a snake bite it is to have ungrateful children. Leave me alone!
make her sterile. if she has kids make them cruel to her. let her feel how worse than a snake bite ungrateful kids are
Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?
Now, gods we worship, where does this come from?
Gods, what's brought this on?
what's caused this?
Never afflict yourself to know more of it;
But let his disposition have that scope
That dotage gives it.
Don't trouble yourself to understand more of it; just let his nature have the freedom that old age allows it.
Don't worry about it. Just let his old age take its course.
don't worry. let his old age run its course
What, fifty of my followers at a clap?
Within a fortnight?
What, fifty of my followers dismissed all at once? Within two weeks?
Fifty of my men gone just like that? In two weeks?
fifty of my men gone in two weeks??
What’s the matter, sir?
What is the matter, sir?
What's wrong?
what's up?
I’ll tell thee. [_To Goneril._] Life and death! I am
asham’d
That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus;
That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon thee!
Th’untented woundings of a father’s curse
Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I’ll pluck ye out,
And cast you with the waters that you lose
To temper clay. Ha! Let it be so.
I have another daughter,
Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable:
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She’ll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find
That I’ll resume the shape which thou dost think
I have cast off for ever.
I'll tell you. (To Goneril.) By all that lives and dies! I am ashamed that you have the power to shake my manhood like this; that these hot tears, which pour from me against my will, should make you think they're worth anything to you. Curses and fog upon you! The unwrapped wounding of a father's curse pierces every sense you have! Old, foolish eyes, if you weep for this cause again, I'll pluck you out and cast you with the tears you shed to make clay. Fine. Let it be so. I have another daughter, who I'm sure is kind and caring. When she hears this about you, with her nails she'll tear your wolf-like face. You will find that I'll take back the power and shape you think I've thrown away forever.
I'll tell you. (To Goneril.) Damn everything! I'm ashamed that you can shake me like this, that these tears I can't stop would make you proud. Curses and fog on you! My father's curse cuts through every nerve in your body. These old, stupid eyes—if I cry about this again, I'll rip them out and mix them with the tears you made me cry. I have another daughter who's kind and will stand by me. When she hears what you did, she'll scratch your face raw. You'll see that I'm still someone to be reckoned with.
i'm ashamed you can make me cry. curses on you. my other daughter will defend me & scratch your face
Do you mark that?
Did you notice that?
Did you hear that?
did you hear him?
I cannot be so partial, Goneril,
To the great love I bear you,—
I cannot be so one-sided, Goneril, despite the great love I have for you,—
I can't take sides with you, Goneril, even though I love you,—
i can't take your side even though i love you
Pray you, content. What, Oswald, ho!
[_To the Fool._] You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master.
Please, be satisfied and calm. Oswald! [To the Fool:] You there—more of a rogue than a fool—go follow your master.
Please just settle down. Oswald! [To the Fool:] You—you're more of a troublemaker than a fool—now go after your master.
be quiet oswald! you troublemaker follow your master
Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry and take the fool with thee.
A fox when one has caught her,
And such a daughter,
Should sure to the slaughter,
If my cap would buy a halter;
So the fool follows after.
Uncle Lear, uncle Lear, wait and take the fool with you. A fox, when one has caught her, and such a daughter should surely go to the slaughter, if my cap would buy a rope; so the fool follows after.
Uncle Lear, uncle Lear, wait and take me with you. A fox when caught, and a daughter like that deserves slaughter—if my hat could buy a rope, I'd follow you.
wait uncle lear take me with you. a daughter like that deserves slaughter. i'd follow you if i could
This man hath had good counsel.—A hundred knights!
’Tis politic and safe to let him keep
At point a hundred knights: yes, that on every dream,
Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
He may enguard his dotage with their powers,
And hold our lives in mercy. Oswald, I say!
This man has had bad counsel. A hundred knights! It's smart and safe to let him keep a hundred armed knights: yes, so that with every wild thought, every rumor, every whim, every complaint, every dislike, he can protect his stubbornness with their power and keep our lives at his mercy. Oswald, I say!
He's had bad advisors. A hundred knights! It's politically smart but dangerous to let him keep a hundred armed men—any time he gets a wild idea or hears a rumor or takes a dislike to something, he can use them to protect his stubbornness and have us at his mercy. Oswald!
he's had bad advice. a hundred armed knights means he can control us whenever he wants. oswald!
Well, you may fear too far.
Well, you may be too afraid.
Well, you're being paranoid.
you're being paranoid
Safer than trust too far:
Let me still take away the harms I fear,
Not fear still to be taken: I know his heart.
What he hath utter’d I have writ my sister:
If she sustain him and his hundred knights,
When I have show’d th’unfitness,—
It's safer than trusting too much: let me continue to remove the harms I fear rather than risk being beaten. I know his heart. What he has said I have written to my sister: if she supports him and his hundred knights, when I have shown how unsuitable it is,—
It's safer than trusting him. I'll keep getting rid of the threats I see rather than risk losing control. I know him. I've written to my sister about everything he said: if she backs him up with those hundred knights, once I've shown how inappropriate it all is,—
safer than trusting him. i'll keep removing threats. i wrote my sister about everything. if she backs him up i'll show how inappropriate it is
How now, Oswald!
What, have you writ that letter to my sister?
What now, Oswald! Have you written that letter to my sister?
Oswald! Have you sent that letter to my sister?
oswald did you write the letter to my sister?
Ay, madam.
Yes, madam.
Yes, madam.
yes ma'am
Take you some company, and away to horse:
Inform her full of my particular fear;
And thereto add such reasons of your own
As may compact it more. Get you gone;
And hasten your return.
Take some companions and ride off: inform her fully of my concerns; and add whatever reasons of your own you can to strengthen that. Go; and hurry your return.
Take some men and ride out to her. Tell her exactly what I'm worried about and add whatever you think strengthens that argument. Go—and come back quick.
take men & ride to her. tell her what i'm worried about. hurry back
No, no, my lord!
This milky gentleness and course of yours,
Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon,
You are much more attask’d for want of wisdom
Than prais’d for harmful mildness.
No, no, my lord! This soft gentleness of yours—though I don't condemn it, with respect—you are more criticized for your lack of wisdom than praised for your harmless mildness.
No, no, my lord! Your gentle nature is fine, but honestly, you're blamed more for lacking wisdom than praised for being harmlessly mild.
your kindness is fine but you're blamed for lacking wisdom more than praised for being mild
How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell:
Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.
I cannot say how far your vision reaches: trying to improve things, we often damage what's already good.
I don't know how well you see things: sometimes when we try to make things better, we mess up what's already working.
trying to improve things we often break what's already good
Nay then,—
Well then,—
Well,—
fine then
Well, well; the event.
Well then, we'll see what happens.
Well, we'll see how this turns out.
we'll see what happens
The Reckoning
Kent, banished in 1-1, walks back in as a stranger named Caius and talks his way into Lear's service. Lear hires him without recognizing him. Oswald is insolent; Lear hits him; Kent trips Oswald — Lear is delighted. Then the Fool appears. Every one of the Fool's songs and riddles says the same thing in a different way: you gave away your power, and now you have none. When Goneril arrives, she says plainly that Lear's knights are disorderly and she wants their number reduced. Lear erupts. He calls down a curse on her — a horrifying fertility curse — and storms off to Regan, convinced she will treat him better. He is wrong. Albany, arriving late, can barely understand what has happened. The scene ends with Kent sent ahead with a letter for Cordelia.
If this happened today…
A retired CEO has moved into his daughter's house under an agreement that he keeps his assistant, his driver, his security team, and his weekly briefings — fifty staff in total. His daughter's head of operations (Oswald) starts ignoring his requests, rescheduling his meetings, reassigning parking. A stand-up philosopher he's kept on retainer shows up and starts doing bits about people who give away their companies and then wonder why nobody returns their calls. Then the daughter comes in and says: twenty people max, and frankly she thinks ten is plenty. The CEO starts yelling about ungrateful children. His son-in-law arrives home to find everyone shouting and no idea where it started.