How does act 1 scene 1 of king lear set the scene for the rest of the play The beginning of a work often sets the tone for the rest of the entire endeavor. In drama especially, the first scene of a play generally sets up the basic themes and situations that the remainder will work with. In king lear’s very first scene, we see many of the play’s fundamental themes and images presented. The …showed first 75 words of 2070 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2070 total…Poor Tom. Lear partially returns to sanity through gentle ministrations of Cordelia and her physician, only to be utterly undone by Edmund’s machinations. All Lear’s grief seems to be caused by mistakes in the first scene. Perhaps, as the victorious Edgar states, " the gads are just, and of our pleasant vices/ make instruments to plague us" (V.iii.171-172), yet Lear’s sad saga is as shakespeare fully intended, truly tragic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**