Loyalty

• 'Good my leige -' - Kent (1.1)


  • language of allegiance
  • presents idea of order/ social class/ service - owes duty of obedience
  • interrupts Lear to give advice - establishes Kent's loyalty as he tries to stop Lear from making mistake as he continues to do throughout play, even when everyone else abandons him
• 'I'll tell thee thou dost evil' - Kent (1.1)


  • honest with Lear - informing him that he fears his actions of dividing kingdom and rejecting Cordelia are wholly wrong
  • doing him a service
• Kent is banished in Act 1 Scene 1 and returns in disguise in Act 1 Scene 4 'razed [his] likeness' so his 'good intent may carry through'- he wants to serve the master whom he loves, & is prepared to do so under an alias - sacrificing identity and status for duty - selfless
• What happens to Kent in Act 2, scene 2?

  • He is put in the stocks by Regan & Cornwall for fighting Oswald
• 'like rats oft bite the holy cords atwain' - Kent (2.2)


  • accuses Oswald of being a bad servant because he allows Goneril to fight with a father, breaking family bonds
  • Oswald does not recognise Goneril is acting angry in the wrong way - he encourages rage instead of helping her to behave in the right way
  • believes good service is not always doing exactly as master says - it is doing what is best for ones master even when they are blind to it
  • Oswald is unlike Kent who encourages Lear to act the right way & wants the best for him & their family
• 'Good King Lear' - Kent (2.2)


  • Kent still recognises Lear's divinely sanctioned position as King
  • gives him authority even when his power is crumbling
  • at point where he is put in stocks - public humiliation for Lear as well as Kent - presents loss of respect for Lear, yet Kent treats him no different
• 'Go on with me' - Gloucester to Lear in storm (3.4)


  • Gloucester still serving Lear as King despite R & G taking over power
  • Gl disobeys people of rank to do right thing - idea of good service is doing whats morally right
  • allegiance w his king - loyal servant
• 'Hold your hand, my lord' 'bid you hold' - servant (3.7)


  • idea of good service
  • servant attempts to stop violence, arguing w master but for right thing - does right thing for master by going against them
  • good servants will argue w masters - not always good to do exactly what you're told - go against authority for justice
  • however servant is killed as result - goodness exists but it is short lived - loss of moral order - evil now triumphs good
• both Kent & Gloucester suffer because of their loyalty to Lear - villains have most power
• 'My master calls, I must not say no' - Kent (5.3) 


  • Albany (who now ranks above the rest) offers K restitution of his title & lands but he refuses, as he intends to follow Lear - dies w master
  • utmost loyalty - final act as a good servant - stays w him to the end
  • even though Lear doesn't recognise him as Caius he feels no hostility due to this - only love & respect for master - recognises his suffering & is there for him