King Lear - rumour of division

1. Enter EDMUND, and CURAN meets him
CURAN
Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the
Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?
EDMUND
Not a word.
CURAN
You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.

2. Enter KENT and a Gentleman, meeting
KENT
........ There is division,
Although as yet the face of it be cover'd
With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall;
Who have — as who have not, that their great stars
Throned and set high? — servants, who seem no less,
Which are to France the spies and speculations
Intelligent of our state; what hath been seen,
Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes,
Or the hard rein which both of them have borne
Against the old kind king; or something deeper,

3. GLOSTER
........ There's a division betwixt
the dukes; and a worse matter than that: I have
received a letter this night; 'tis dangerous to be
spoken; I have locked the letter in my closet:
these injuries the king now bears will be revenged
home; there's part of a power already footed: we
must incline to the king.

Neither by word nor deed do the dukes express any disagreement. So what might be the source of the rumours? Rather obviously the French invaders don't want to face the combined forces of Albany and Cornwall. It would be a good stratagem for the French to have their spies spread rumours suggesting disharmony and disunity among the British, the object being to divide and conquer. Rumours that sound plausible could be invented. For example, it might be suggested that a 'division' between the dukes had arisen out of an earlier actual 'division', namely, a disagreement over the sharing of Cordelia's 'third more opulent.'

When Cornwall became aware of the French landing at Dover, he sent Edmund to enlist Albany's support. This is the only time he mentions Albany and he expresses no animosity. Only a few minutes later Cornwall is killed.

CORNWALL
..... Advise the duke, where you are going, to
a most festinate preparation: we are bound to the
like. Our posts shall be swift and intelligent
betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister:

Not only does Albany call Cornwall 'my good brother' but we sense that he thought that both had been vastly benefited. He expresses no animosity. The reality is that there is no division whatsoever between the dukes.

ALBANY
Could my good brother suffer you to do it?
A man, a prince, by him so benefited!

From the moment Cornwall's death is announced, a 'division', of sorts, really does come into being, but it is only between Goneril and Regan and not their states. Goneril realises that she is very likely to lose Edmund to Regan, while Regan realises the effect on Goneril if she should marry Edmund. Edmund thus becomes a wedge between the sisters and they become enemies.

But Goneril also has other aims and objectives. In an 'Aside' she makes it clear that she has ambitious plans in relation to Britain. What can it be but to rule Britain as queen or, alternatively, that she and Edmund will reign as joint monarchs, once certain inconveniences are disposed of? It seems that her mind quickly encompasses the possibilities to achieve her various goals.

GONERIL
[Aside] One way I like this well;
But being widow, and my Gloster with her,
May all the building in my fancy pluck
Upon my hateful life: another way,
The news is not so tart.

Albany's sympathy for Lear is known, but he makes it clear that he thinks the French are not invading Britain in Lear's interest but in their own, and for this reason he is determined to oppose them. Edmund describes this as noble. Regan, though, seems puzzled, as though the mention of Lear is a significant issue. Goneril realises that a successful French invasion, with or without Lear's reinstallation as king, would destroy her so she urges the British forces to unite against France. She dismisses Regan's question as an unimportant issue at this moment with a decisive battle about to be fought.

ALBANY
................... for this business,
It toucheth us, as France invades our land,
Not bolds the King, with others, whom, I fear,
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.
EDMUND
Sir, you speak nobly.
REGAN
Why is this reason'd?
GONERIL
Combine together 'gainst the enemy;
For these domestic and particular broils
Are not the question here.

Once victory has been achieved Goneril quickly takes the initiative and poisons Regan, thus resolving their personal 'division'. She has previously urged Edmund to murder Albany. Her plans for herself and Edmund are thwarted when he is killed and so she kills herself.

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