King Lear

Having resigned himself to his terrible circumstances, Edgar believes he’s hit such an absolute low that there’s nowhere to go but up. At that moment, he sees the blinded Gloucester led by an old man and concludes, “The worst is not/So long as we can say, ‘This is the worst’” (27-28).

Edgar presents himself as a guide to the miserable Gloucester, who wants to be led to the cliffs of Dover, where he can throw himself to his death. The old man leading Gloucester protests that Edgar is a madman; Gloucester, unperturbed, replies, “‘Tis the time’s plague when madmen lead the blind” (48). Although Edgar can barely keep up his act, he agrees to guide his father to the cliffs.

Goneril, Oswald, and Edmund discuss changes they’ve observed in Albany, who now seems to have qualms about his family’s behavior, particularly Goneril’s. Goneril is neither surprised nor upset. She wants to marry Edmund now, and Albany can die for all she cares. Goneril and Edmund part with a kiss, and she sighs, “O, the difference of man and man:/To thee a woman’s services are due;/My fool usurps my body” (26-28).