The seeds of Lear's madness have been clearly planted in the first act. This can be seen through Kent's reference to Lear's madness and through Regan and Goneril's reference to the aging Lear. When Lear gets mad that Cordelia won't say how much she loves him, Kent steps in and tries to calm him down; however, Lear doesn't want to hear him speak. Lear goes on to say, " Let it fall rather, through the fork invade/ the region of my heart. Be Kent unmannerly/ when Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old/ man? / Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak/ when power to flattery bows? " (1. 1. 47-52). Kent takes it upon as his duty to let Lear know he is going crazy when he starts acting "folly". Regan and Goneril's reference to Lear's old age is the second seed planted. Regan and Goneril think Lear is crazy for not believing Cordelia, Goneril says " you see how full of changes his age is. The/ observation we have made of it hath not been little. He always loved our sister most, and with/ what poor judgment he hath now cast her off/ appears too grossly" (1. 1. 97-102). They realize that due to his old age, his judgment has become poor.
Disguise and deception play an important role in the play. Two key examples of this are when Edmond deceives Gloucester by making him believe Edgar is a traitor, and when Edgar disguises himself as a "poor Tom. Edmund pretends to get into a physical altercation with Edgar just as Gloucester enters the room. Edgar is branded as a traitor, and Gloucester's love and trust for Edmund increases. Edmonds Bent 2 fake wound appears as evidence that he is willing to defend his father. He says, In cunning, I must draw my sword upon you. / draw. Seem to defend yourself. Now quit, you will. - /yield! Come before my father (2. 1. 28-31). Edmond gains favors with others, just like Cornwall. Edgar dresses up as a bad beggar or " poor Tom" in an attempt to escape the search party. He says, " Poor Turlygod! Poor Tom! / That's something yet: Edgar I nothing am." (2. 3. 20-21). By this, he means that he is...
