Act III: 2

This scene of Gloucester’s unfortunate loss is very gruesome and disgraceful. No respect is shown to Gloucester even in his own home. The plucking of the eyes takes place while fighting continues and people are dying. Nothing but dramatic violence and gore is happening to cater to the storm and rage of the entire Act. This section of the novel is entirely consumed in the frustrations of the families and how all the problems are now starting to blend together. This violence brings together the rage that everyone has kept inside. It is the best way that Shakespeare could express the true emotions that the novel includes. I tend to believe that this display of violence was quite necessary for the full affect of the novel to be experienced and felt. I don’t think we could fully appreciate this work without the vile display Shakespeare creates. Graphic violence is necessary in slasher films and GTA. With slasher films the entire aspect of the film is killing, blood, and guts. It is called a horror for a reason. This type of film needs the gore for the fright factor. However, it is different with GTA. Including gore here adds the realistic affect. When such actions as killings or beatings happen in the real world blood, broken bones, and dismemberment occur. This game has felt the need to add this reality. I am not saying I support the aspect of the game, but I think the creators made a good decision in order to sell the game. Graphic violence has a place in films, games, and novels when it has to be present for the dramatic affect or to be as realistic as possible. This display is not something that should be thrown about nonchalant. Graphic violence should not be used as humor. It is a serious matter. Shakespeare used the violence correctly and made the ending of Act III memorable.

ACT II: 4

4. France: “Cordelia, my love, it has been some time since your father and sisters have seen or heard from you. What are you planning to do about the turmoil that your sisters are creating?” Cordelia: “I do not know what I will do, but I have kept close watch on all of their actions. It is terrible the way my sisters are treating my father. I hope to reach my father and let him know that I still love him and want to help him. Even though he banished me and gave away my portion of the lands, he still is my father.” France: “I am amazed that after all your father has done to you, there is still love that you have for him. You are truly a fine person.” Cordelia: “He is my father. I love him no matter what he does. My sisters should be concerned about what I am going to do to them. They have no right to be doing these things to father. He is the one who gave them everything and they would be penniless peasants without him. No man would want them either without the money land they possess.” France: “You are very wise. What do you plan to do next? Cordelia: “I think I must go to back to Britain and try to handle this situation. My father is in danger if my sisters continue on their “war path”. It is my duty to save him from their treacherous actions.” France: “If you feel you must become involved in this rubbish then do as you must. Just know that you are putting yourself in harms way. Your sisters are stopping at nothing. Cordelia: “This is my father and I can not let him suffer. It would kill me to know that I could have prevented something bad from happening to him.”

ACT II: 2

2. The actions of Goneril and Reagan are not very simple to understand or explain. In essence they are two-faced, evil women who will do anything to achieve their goals. The beginning of the novel shows a lighter and more compassionate side of the girls when they must confess their “love” to gain the lands of their father. However, we quickly see that they have no such feelings and are eager to gain the title of Queen. No one can really put a direct reason for why people act this way. Some people are just born evil and know no other way of acting than to be ruthless. To the sisters’ account, Lear is not the best father in the world. He needed his daughters to say how much they loved him and compete for his land. A normal father knows that his children love him and should treat them with the same love. Evil in people is bred into them and no one can control the path that these people take. Resentment that children have for their parents can be caused by a behavior they have seen or something that has happened to them in their childhood. Goneril and Reagan could have been treated badly by Lear and have never forgiven him or the power to rule has gotten the best of them. The relationship between child and parent is very powerful and it can be a parent’s worst nightmare or the best thing that ever happened to them. The bond that exists between child and parent is something that can never exist anywhere else. Children and parents can do many things to each other, but in the end the love still exists. The evilness of these two girls won’t prevent Lear from loving them.