We had a nice conversation today in British Literature about the historical situation pertaining to Dryden and on the notion of individuality. We’ve also had some more individual discussions about the exam essay having to do with the idea of the disguise in King Lear. I wanted to emphsize that the disguise or mask has broad implications. Edmund assembles a mask to fool Lear and Edgar. Lear, however, doesn’t assemble a mask. He is blind to his actions, thus he can be fooled by those who would put on the mask, by those who attempt to “fool” him. The disguise, the mask, is a question of “will” and “motive.” So to answer the question about the mask we have to distinguish between “motive” and ignorance, “will” and misconception.

Everyone have a good holiday.