Act 2, Scene 8 Summary

The setting is the Ptydepe Classroom. Again Lear is lecturing, but at this point there is only one student, Thumb. Lear conducts a lesson as Gross passes through, still carrying his fire extinguisher. After he's gone, Lear quizzes Thumb on what he remembers of the lesson just passed. At first, Thumb continues to get all the answers right, but he becomes more and more confused and more and more mistaken. Lear finally has enough and dismisses him from the classroom. After he's gone, Lear continues his lecture to an empty row of chairs.

Act 2, Scene 8 Analysis

This brief scene functions on two levels. On a plot level it reiterates the point made earlier that enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, Ptydepe within the company is declining to the point where it's practically non-existent. On a symbolic level, it reinforces the earlier thematic...