Old Fools Are Babes Again and Must Be Used With Checks as Flatteries When They Are Seen Abused

King Lear Human action I: Summary

Storyboard Text

This policy and reverence of age makes the earth biting to the all-time of our time; keeps our fortunes from u.s.a. till our oldness cannot enjoy them...
"Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land" (I.ii.16)
Hither, Goneril and Regan are exclaiming Lear'southward praises (merely to win his favour) as he admonishes Cordelia (with a "dragon's wrath") for the "nothing" she provides in response to his game (symbolized by the effects near Lear's hand). Kent comes to Cordelia's defence, rebuking Lear's harsh reaction by stating: "And in thy best consideration bank check/This hideous rashness. Reply my life my sentence,/Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least,/Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sounds/Reverb no hollowness" (I.i.152-156). Unfortunately, Lear will have none of it. He proceeds to banish Kent and continues in treating Cordelia harshly until Gloucester, Burgundy and French republic get in.
Later on Cordelia has left with France, Lear has left with his attendants, and Kent has been banished, Goneril and Regan begin to hash out Lear'southward rashness and recent outbursts. They agree that his fits will show to exist an obstacle in the style of their newfound power, and thus decide to bide their time and work together to find an opportunity to get rid of him. As Goneril puts it: "Pray you let'south hit together...We must do something, and i' the rut" (I.i.304, 308).
Later, Edmund launches into his soliloquy, in which he expresses his resentments over being the "base", "bastard" son, and explains that he plans to frame his half-brother Edgar by forging a alphabetic character on his behalf with the intent of sabotaging his inheritance and stealing it for himself. Behind him is Gloucester, who is contemplating the solar day's events as he approaches Edmund ("Kent banished thus? And France in choler parted?/And the Rex gone this night? Prescribed his ability?/Confined to exhibition? All this done/Upon the gad?" (I.ii.22-26) ). Edmund proceeds to show Gloucester the letter, and Gloucester reacts with rash concern and anger.
Afterwards discussing the false thing with Gloucester, Edgar arrives in time to run across Edmund. Edmund gain to tell him well-nigh his father'south anger towards him, and how he wishes to physically hurt him. He makes information technology sound as though he is on Edgar's side, even going and so far every bit to let him believe that he is existence framed, and then tells him to flee. Later, and likely during the whole ordeal, Edmund harbors contempt and mockery towards his family unit, citing the gullibility of Gloucester and the foolishness of Edgar: "A Credulous begetter! And a brother noble,/Whose nature is so far from doing harms/That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty/My practices ride like shooting fish in a barrel!" (I.two.176-179).
Afterwards, Oswald and Goneril hash out 1 of Lear'southward recent outbursts, in which he strikes Oswald for finding mistake with his Fool. Goneril becomes furious, citing how Lear and his knights accept become generally rowdy and obnoxious as of late. Then, Goneril instructs Oswald to be less circumspect to Lear. She wishes to cause Lear to accept some other fit, which would give her a reason to adios him. She and then expresses her contempt for him as she says: "Old fools are babes again, and must be used/With checks equally flatteries, when they are seen abused" (I.3.xx-21).
Soon, we meet the aftermath of Goneril's plan (Lear and Kent's wrath unleashed on Oswald), just not earlier Kent reappears in his disguise: a shaved beard (and new cloak for good measure out) in the hopes of faithfully serving Lear. As well, a knight has simply told Lear of his poor experience at Castle Albany, but earlier Lear can speak with Goneril about it, Lear's Fool appears. He launches into a spiel wherein he calls Lear a fool himself, because of all of his recent rash decisions (namely the decision to give his wealth to his two conniving daughters). To illustrate Lear's foolishness, the Fool uses a simile to compare him to an old human being who carries his donkey on his dorsum, instead of the other style effectually.