King Lear Play
King Lear begins with King Lear of England,
handing over his kingdom to daughters Regan and Goneril
whom he believes truly love him. He intends to stay
with each daughter consecutively, accompanied by one
hundred loyal knights. Angry that Cordelia, his youngest
daughter does not appear to love him as much as Goneril
and Regan, Lear banishes her and Kent, the servant who
tried to defend her. Cordelia is taken by the King of
France as his Queen... Edmund, the trusted but illegitimate
son of the Earl of Gloucester, plots against brother
Edgar. Things quickly go bad for Lear, Goneril conspiring
to have him driven out of her house. Kent, disguised
so he can still serve King Lear, earns his respect by
defending him. Goneril offends her father, dismissing
fifty of his knights. Lear starts to realise Cordelia
was not so bad after all... He decides to leave Goneril
for Regan... Edmund tricks Gloucester into believing
Edgar wanted to kill him, Edgar going into hiding...
Kent and Goneril's steward, Oswald fight, Kent being
punished, emphasizing how little Lear's name is respected
by Regan and Goneril...
Lear tells Regan how much Goneril hurt him, Regan
allowing Lear to stay but without one follower; he decides
to stay with neither daughter... Kent keeps Cordelia
informed of her father's plight... Lear braves the elements
against a storm... Gloucester tells Edmund the French
will soon invade. Lear is brought out of the storm,
where he explains the physical torment distracted him
from the pain his daughters have brought him. Edmund
talks to the Duke of Cornwall (Regan's husband), implicating
Gloucester as a traitor. Edmund is rewarded with his
father's title. Cornwall tells Edmund to find Gloucester...
Iin a farmhouse, Lear, showing signs of madness, holds
a mock trial to punish his daughters, addressing two
stools as if they were Regan and Goneril. Gloucester
is captured and blinded. Disgusted by Cornwall's brutality,
a servant wounds Cornwall... Gloucester now blind, realises
his mistakes, especially about Edgar. Gloucester meets
"poor Tom" not realising it is Edgar in disguise.
Edgar leads his father to the cliffs of Dover where
his father wishes to commit suicide. The Duke of Albany
renounces his wife Goneril, realising her evil... Cornwall
dies. The rivalry between Regan and Goneril for Edmund
intensifies... Cordelia sends men to find her father...
With the battle about to begin, Albany switches sides
again, supporting Goneril and Regan but only to fight
an invading power. Regan worries more about her sister's
intentions for Edmund than the battle...
Edgar leads his father to the cliffs of Dover, tricking
him that he survived the fall. Edgar kills Oswald, Oswald's
letter from Goneril revealing she wanted Edmund to kill
Albany so they could marry. Cordelia finds her father
who deeply regrets his actions... Regan and Goneril
try to make Edmund choose between them... Cordelia's
forces lose to Goneril and Regan, Cordelia and Lear
being taken prisoner. Albany turns on Goneril and Regan.
Edgar mortally wounds Edmund. Goneril kills herself
and poisons Regan. Poor Tom (Edgar) reveals his true
identity to Gloucester who dies unable to take both
grief and joy. Albany and the dying Edmund try to save
Lear and Cordelia from being hanged but are too late...
Lear howls with pain at the loss of Cordelia. Kent is
finally recognised for his loyalty by Lear who, unable
to take further pain, dies. Albany is left to restore
order...
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V
Act II
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act III
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V, Scene
VI, Scene VII
Act IV
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V, Scene
VI, Scene VII
Act V
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
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