We learn about characters by noting what they say, what they do, what others say about them and how others act in their presence. In King Lear the soliloquies are an essential part of learning about the characters.
When you are studying characters in King Lear, it can be helpful to think in terms of the following checklists:
Role
✓✓In which scenes does the character appear? (It is a good idea to make a list of these and note what happens in each as it can give you a clear indication of the challenges the character has to face and how he or she copes with them.)
✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓
Does the character change as the play progresses?
Do the character’s actions – or inaction – affect the plot outcome? Does the character have a dramatic function within the play? Is the character a hero, heroine or villain?
Does the character act as a foil to another character? How is the character influenced by the world of the text?
