◆ Tragedy · c. 1606

King Lear

An ageing king's fateful division of his kingdom between his daughters unleashes chaos, cruelty, and catastrophic loss.

King Lear dramatizes the story of an aged king of ancient Britain, whose plan to divide his kingdom among his three daughters ends tragically. When he tests each by asking how much she loves him, the older daughters, Goneril and Regan, flatter him. The youngest, Cordelia, does not, and Lear disowns and banishes her. She marries the king of France. Goneril and Regan turn on Lear, leaving him to wander madly in a furious storm.

Meanwhile, the Earl of Gloucester's illegitimate son Edmund turns Gloucester against his legitimate son, Edgar. Gloucester, appalled at the daughters' treatment of Lear, gets news that a French army is coming to help Lear. Edmund betrays Gloucester to Regan and her husband, Cornwall, who puts out Gloucester's eyes and makes Edmund the Earl of Gloucester.

Cordelia and the French army save Lear, but the army is defeated. Edmund imprisons Cordelia and Lear. Edgar then mortally wounds Edmund in a trial by combat. Dying, Edmund confesses that he has ordered the deaths of Cordelia and Lear. Before they can be rescued, Lear brings in Cordelia's body and then he himself dies.

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Acts & Scenes

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Scene I King Lear's palace.

Scene II The Earl of Gloucester's castle.

Scene III The Duke of Albany's palace.

Scene IV A hall in the Duke of Albany's palace.

Scene V Court before the Duke of Albany's palace.

Scene I The Earl of Gloucester's castle.

Scene II Before Gloucester's castle.

Scene III The open country.

Scene IV Before Gloucester's castle.

Scene I A heath. Thunder and lightning.

Scene II Another part of the heath. The storm continues.

Scene III Gloucester's castle.

Scene IV A hovel on the heath.

Scene V Gloucester's castle.

Scene VI A farmhouse adjoining Gloucester's castle.

Scene VII Gloucester's castle.

Scene I The heath.

Scene II Before the Duke of Albany's palace.

Scene III The French camp near Dover.

Scene IV A tent in the French camp.

Scene V Gloucester's castle.

Scene VI Fields near Dover.

Scene VII A tent in the French camp.

Scene I The British camp near Dover.

Scene II A field between the two camps.

Scene III The British camp near Dover.

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King Lear Characters

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LEARAging King of Britain, undone by his demand for a love he cannot measure

CORDELIALear's youngest daughter, who will not flatter him

GONERILLear's eldest daughter, wife to the Duke of Albany

REGANLear's second daughter, wife to the Duke of Cornwall

KENTLoyal earl, banished for defending Cordelia

GLOUCESTEREarl whose trust in his bastard son destroys him

EDGARGloucester's legitimate son, disguised as Poor Tom

EDMUNDGloucester's bastard son and schemer

FOOLLear's jester and the voice of his buried conscience

ALBANYGoneril's husband, slow to see and quick to judge once he does

CORNWALLRegan's husband, cruel without Edmund's excuse of grievance

OSWALDGoneril's steward, loyal to her ambition alone

FRANCEKing of France, who takes Cordelia for herself alone

GENTLEMANAttendant and messenger, witness to Lear's suffering on the heath

DOCTORFrench doctor who oversees Lear's recovery

OLD MANGloucester's tenant, who leads him after his blinding

SERVANTSCornwall's servants who witness and resist the blinding of Gloucester