...men of stones: Had I your tongues and eyes, I'ld use them so That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever! I know when one is dead, and when one lives; She's dead as earth. (5.3.258-62) Lear's accusation is obliquely aimed at the spectators too. Presumably they also are silent,...

...beloved daughter, Cordelia, by putting a mirror to her lips to check her breath. She's gone for ever— 1 know when one is dead, and when one lives: She's dead as earth — l.end me a looking-glass: 1f that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Why, then she lives. —iAct V, Scene...

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...from trying to delude himself, Lear emphasizes the fact that Cordelia is dead: she,s gone for eyer I know when one is dead, and when one lives ; She's dead as earth. (11. 259-61) He tries, however, to find out, by objective evidence, whether there is a chance that...

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...our critical traditions to expect from the final resolution of a 'Shakespearean tragedy'. . . . she's gone for ever. I know when one is dead and when one lives; She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking glass; If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Why then she lives (Foakes, Lear, 5.3.257-61)...

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...tells us right at the top of the scene that he knows Cordelia is dead: not 'I think she's dead', but 'I know when one is dead and when one lives. She's dead as earth'. He couldn't be more categoric. Then for the rest of the scene he plays with the notion that she might...