Help with quote analysis? (1 Viewer)

[exa_boi87]

"Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gav'st thy golden one away" - 1.4.125

help !!! .. worked out the lines preceeding this went along the lines of the fool comparing the division of Lears Kingdowm to that of a breaking egg (still not sure about the "meat"), then the "carrying of the ass" meaning that he is now at their mercy, however not being able to understand this line has stopped me from responding to it >< .. any help is appreciated ..

cheers

 

[mynameisgone]

"Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gav'st thy golden one away" - 1.4.125

The fool is refering to Lear giving away the throne. his bald crown is a reference to wisdom, bald being old, saying that it was a foolish act to divide up the kingdom, and the golden crown is the throne or kingdom, gav'st being given.

hope this helps

 

[silvermoon]

you COULD interpret it this way, however the standard response to this line (which you will find more useful in analysis) is that "thy golden one" is Cordelia, the golden child, not the crown. "bald crown" is a dual reference --> firstly to his loss of wisdom in his old age and secondly as a direct reference to the crown and, by extension, the kingdom.