Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool?
Did my father strike my servant for scolding at the fool?
Did my dad hit my steward for disciplining the fool?
did he hit oswald
In this scene he is almost entirely a receiver of instructions — present, attentive, compliant. His character will develop as the play continues: he's not merely obedient but zealously committed to Goneril's interests. For now, he's the instrument being picked up.
Ay, madam.
Yes, madam.
Yes, he did.
yeah
By day and night, he wrongs me; every hour
He flashes into one gross crime or other,
That sets us all at odds; I’ll not endure it:
His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us
On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,
I will not speak with him; say I am sick.
If you come slack of former services,
You shall do well; the fault of it I’ll answer.
Day and night he wrongs me. Every hour he commits some gross offense that throws everyone into turmoil. I won't endure it anymore. His knights are becoming wild and unruly, and he himself criticizes me for every small thing. When he comes back from hunting, I will not speak to him. Tell him I am sick. If you fall short of the service he is used to, you will do well. I will answer for your failures.
He's impossible. Every day, every hour, he does something that causes chaos. His knights are becoming rowdy, and he yells at me over everything. When he comes back from hunting, I won't see him. Tell him I'm sick. And if you're not as eager to serve him, if you slip up a little—that's fine. I'll cover for you.
he's impossible conflicts every hour his knights are wild he yells at me when he gets back i'm sick don't worry if you slip i'll cover
He’s coming, madam; I hear him.
He's coming, madam. I hear him.
He's here. I hear the horns.
he's coming
Put on what weary negligence you please,
You and your fellows; I’d have it come to question:
If he distaste it, let him to our sister,
Whose mind and mine, I know, in that are one,
Not to be overruled. Idle old man,
That still would manage those authorities
That he hath given away! Now, by my life,
Old fools are babes again; and must be us’d
With checks as flatteries, when they are seen abus’d.
Remember what I have said.
Put on whatever neglect and weariness you like, you and your staff. I want this to be noticeable. If he complains about it, tell him to go to my sister Regan. Her mind and mine are in perfect agreement on this—we won't be overruled. The idle old man still tries to manage the authority he has given away! Now, by my life, old men are like children and must be ruled—checked with scolding when they're seen being abusive. Remember what I've told you.
Act tired. Be careless. All of you. I want him to notice. If he complains, tell him to go stay with Regan instead. We're on the same page about this—neither of us will put up with his nonsense. He keeps trying to control things he doesn't actually own anymore. Old men are like toddlers—they need to be reprimanded when they act out. Got it?
be careless be cold let him notice if he complains go to regan she agrees with me we won't back down
Very well, madam.
Very well, madam.
Understood.
got it
And let his knights have colder looks among you;
What grows of it, no matter; advise your fellows so;
I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,
That I may speak. I’ll write straight to my sister
To hold my very course. Prepare for dinner.
And let his knights receive colder treatment from you and your colleagues. What comes of that doesn't matter to me. Instruct the others to do the same. I will create situations from this, I assure you, where I can finally speak plainly to him. I will write to my sister right away to keep her on the same course. Now prepare for dinner.
And tell the other servants to give his knights the cold shoulder. Ignore them. Don't worry about what happens. I'm building reasons to confront him. And I'll write Regan today to make sure she does the same thing. Now go get dinner ready.
cold shoulder to his knights don't worry about fallout i'm engineering reasons to fight writing regan same plan get dinner ready
The Reckoning
A very short scene, but it is the ignition of everything in Acts 1 and 2. Goneril has had Lear under her roof and she is already tired of it. She tells Oswald to be cold to Lear, to answer him carelessly, and to let his knights feel unwelcome. She is not reacting to Lear's behavior — she is planning to manufacture a grievance. If Lear complains, she will use it to justify demanding he reduce his retinue. She is several moves ahead, and she knows it.
If this happened today…
A new board member who just voted herself a controlling stake tells her EA: 'When the founder comes in for his weekly office day, no reserved parking, no staff greeting, the good conference room is booked. If his team makes noise about anything, that's our opening. And if he says something to me about it — good. I want that conversation.'