The fourth scene begins with the arrival of Lear, the Fool, and an unnamed “gentleman” at the castle of Gloucester. They find the Earl of Kent still sitting in the stocks, and Lear is shocked that anyone would treat one of his men in such a dishonorable and disrespectful manner. Kent tells Lear what had happened and how Oswald, a “reeking” messenger, had already delivered a letter from Goneril to Regan (at lines 29-31). The word reeking refers both to Oswald’s sweating (because he had traveled fast) and to his offensive smell (symbolizing his offensive behavior). Kent admits that he acted unwisely when he attacked Oswald: “having more man than wit about me” (41). The word man refers to courage or bravery. But Kent realizes that if he had not been so proud and angry and obstinate, he would not then be sitting in the stocks.
The Fool wisely comments on Kent’s situation with a little poem that almost sounds like a nursery rhyme:
Fathers that wear rags
Do make their children blind;
But fathers that bear bags Shall see their children kind.
Fortune that arrant whore,
Ne’er turns the key to the poor. (46-51)
The word bags refers to purses or bags of money. The Fool is grimly commenting that most children in society only care about their fathers’ wealth, but not about their fathers’ well-being. Dame Fortune, again being the personification of Fate or Destiny, is an untrustworthy whore or prostitute. Prostitutes only open their doors to men who have money, and Fate never seems to help or provide for the poor.
After Lear exits, Kent asks the Fool why Lear has so few followers. The Fool responds that only a fool would ask such a question. The Fool also uses an obscure metaphor of the ant to explain the situation to Kent (at lines 63-64). The wise ant works or labors in the summer and fall to store up food for the winter. Lear’s retinue or followers also need to prepare for the winter, for Lear has fallen into his winter – that is, Lear has fallen into cold and bleak times. Unfortunately, Lear has not foreseen the coming of this winter; and he is not prepared to provide for his followers or for himself.
The Fool then recites another little poem in which he describes the selfish followers who have abandoned Lear as knaves – as crafty and immoral scoundrels (lines 72-79). The Fool suggests that these knaves are the real fools. Lear’s Fool may be suggesting that knaves such as these will end up in an even worse condition. Then again, the Fool could just be speaking ironically – for at least the knaves have not ended up in the stocks as Kent has done.
Lear returns on the stage with the Earl of Gloucester. Gloucester attempts to explain to Lear that Regan and Cornwall refuse to see Lear because they claim to be sick and weary after traveling all day. Lear realizes that his daughter and her husband are just making excuses and describes these weak excuses as “images of revolt and flying off” (83). That is, their words are signs of rebellion and desertion.
Lear tells Gloucester to return to Cornwall and come back with a more suitable – a more respectful – answer. Gloucester is not keen to do this because he fears the temper, “the fiery quality of the duke” (86). Lear, calming down a bit, realizes that perhaps he has been acting rashly and angrily and believes that quite possibly the Duke of Cornwall could actually be ill (at line 99). Lear comments that men cannot help but neglect their office or duty when their health is ill, and he may be referring to himself as much as he is referring to Cornwall. Lear then desperately cries out …
Death on my state! (106)
This phrase has a double meaning: (1) a king who is wretched will utter such lines as an oath implying that he wished he was never king or that he wished he never brought his kingdom to such a miserable state. Ironically, Lear is no longer king and his kingdom is already in a miserable state. However (2) Lear is also a man. As such, he is just hoping or praying for his own death, for an end to his miserable existence.
That, though, will not occur until later in the play.
Confused and uncertain, Lear changes his mind once again when he gazes at Kent sitting in the stocks. Lear still has enough presence of mind to realize that the actions and words of Regan and Gloucester can only point to one possibility: they are revolting, they are flying off. So, Lear tells Gloucester once again to bring Cornwall and Regan to him.
After Gloucester exits, the Fool tells Lear a little nonsense story about misplaced kindness (at lines 116-19). In the silly story a female cook tries to be kind to eels that she is cooking by not killing them before she puts them in the oven. The eels, of course, try to get out, and the woman hits them with a stick and declares them to be ungrateful “wantons” or rogues for not appreciating her kindness. The woman’s brother tries to be kind to his horse by buttering his hay. However, a horse will not eat hay covered with butter. Lear, of course, has also misplaced his kindness by giving away his kingdom to Goneril and Regan. Lear is every bit as foolish as the woman cook and her brother.
Cornwall and Regan finally arrive on stage and greet Lear. They also set Kent free from the stocks.
Lear complains to Regan about the treatment – about the “sharp-toothed unkindness” – he had received from Goneril (lines 126-27). Regan, however, defends her older sister and claims that Goneril acted properly in dismissing Lear’s followers because they behaved in a riotous and ill-mannered fashion. Regan goes even further by stating that Lear should return to Goneril and admit that he had been wrong (at line 144).
Lear is surprised and shocked by the words of the daughter that he thought would support him. He then comments on the inappropriate behavior of his daughters:
Do you but mark how this becomes the house. (146)
The word house refers to family, and the entire line is spoken ironically. Lear is suggesting that all of the words and actions of his daughters have been unbecoming and improper for a noble family, or any family. But Lear finally realizes that old people are not wanted and not needed in society: “age is unnecessary” (148). Lear then humbles himself by getting down on his knees and begging Regan to take care of him.
Regan, however, is unmoved by Lear’s words
and actions. She again tells Lear to return to Goneril. But Lear is firm in his resolve to stay away from Goneril, and he curses his eldest daughter once again (and once again suggesting the supernatural force of a Biblical curse of a father on a child). The unmoved Regan only comments that Lear will probably end up cursing her as well. Lear, though, tells her that he will never curse her because she is tender and kind. Lear is still fooled by Regan. He does not realize yet that she is every bit as harsh – if not harsher – than Goneril.
Lear’s emotions become more embroiled
when Oswald and, a moment later, Goneril appear. Lear prays to the heavens for comfort and relief and still wants to know who had put Kent in the stocks. Cornwall admits that he was responsible for punishing Kent, and Lear is nearly speechless.