Passage III (Shakespeare, King Lear, 4.6.160–67)
Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand!
Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;
Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind
For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.
Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear;
Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;
Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.
Why is the beadle told to whip his own back instead of the prostitute's?
Pick an option to check yourself, or open the answer below.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B. He himself lusts after her.
Explanation
'Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind / For which thou whipp'st her' — the punisher shares the sin.
Note: The raw source key gives option 3; the text supports option 2.
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