King Lear - Goneril and Regan Quotes

A1.S1: Goneril describes the extent of her love for Lear

A1.S1: Regan challenges Goneril’s profession about Lear, foreshadowing the rivalry between them over Edmund

A1.S1: Regan comments on the age and frailty of Lear

A1.S1: Goneril alludes to the plans of the sisters to overthrow Lear, as a necessity to preserve the kingdom

A1.S3: Goneril complains about Lear to Oswald

A1.S3: Goneril comments on Lear’s childish foolishness; linking to Lear’s desire to be mothered

A2.S4: Regan patronises/chides Lear as if he were a child; ironic as Lear seems to want to be mothered and looked after

A2.S4: Goneril and Regan work together to reduce Lear to nothing by systematically removing his retinue

A3.S7: Regan’s cruelty towards Gloucester challenges the contemporary role of women – the disrespect shown not only to a man but also to a man of high social stature would have been seriously frowned upon

A3.S7: Regan and Cornwall share lines which speeds up the pace of the action whilst torturing Gloucester.

Highlights the eagerness and cruelty in Regan as she seems to enjoy doing it

A4.S2: Goneril lusts after Edmund

A4.S2: Goneril attacks Albany due to his lack of masculinity

A5.S3: Regan mocks Goneril for her attempts to steal Edmund from her; however there are undertones that link to the Fool’s role in the play and his wisdom