King Lear was the 28th play written by William Shakespeare in 1605.

Discover more
about the plot and its characters with this handy Homework Help summary guide.

King Lear is a tragic play by William Shakespeare.

When was King Lear written?

William Shakespeare wrote King Lear in 1605 and 1606. This was during the early
reign of James I.

King Lear is about the benefits of primogeniture. This law required all property to be
passed down to the oldest male child. The monarchs of England followed this rule.
Kings like Henry VIII struggled to fulfill this law as he didn’t have a male heir until
many years into his reign.

William Shakespeare may have drawn similarities between the character of King
Lear and James I. Like Lear, James I had three kingdoms
(England, Scotland and Ireland) to pass down to his heirs. King Lear warns of the
dangers of dividing three kingdoms between three heirs. Unlike Lear, James I did
pass his three kingdoms down to one male heir: Charles I.

Who are the characters of King Lear?

Let’s take a closer look at the characters of King Lear:

King Lear
King Lear is an old king of Ancient Britain. He has decided to abdicate and divide his
kingdom between his daughters. He plans to enjoy his retirement in the company of
his knights. They will stay at his daughters’ castles and spend their days feasting and
hunting.
Things go wrong for Lear when his youngest daughter behaves differently from how
he expected. In a rage, Lear disowns Cordelia. After this, he discovers that his other
daughters aren’t as loving and obedient as he first thought. By the end of the play,
Lear loses his friends, his kingdom, his daughters, and his sanity.

Cordelia
Cordelia is the youngest daughter of King Lear. She is also his favourite. Cordelia is
promised in marriage to either the Duke of Burgundy or the King of France. After
Lear disowns her, Cordelia is married to the King of France. Cordelia is worried that
her sisters don’t care for Lear like she does. She returns to Britain with a French
army to fight against Goneril and Regan. The French lost the battle. Cordelia is taken
prisoner and murdered.

Goneril
Goneril is the oldest daughter of King Lear. She is married to the Duke of Albany and
doesn’t have any children of her own. She makes a flattering speech to King Lear
where she declares her love for him. She is rewarded with a third of the kingdom.
This becomes half of the kingdom when Cordelia is disowned.

Goneril’s marriage to Albany isn’t a happy one as he doesn’t agree with how she
treats King Lear. Goneril falls in love with Edmund and plots with him to kill Albany
so they can marry. Goneril also poisons Regan who also wants to marry Edmund.
When her plan falls apart, Goneril kills herself.

Regan
Regan is the second daughter of King Lear. She is married to the Duke of
Cornwall and doesn’t have any children. Like Goneril, Regan makes a grand speech
to Lear where she declares her love. She gets a third of the kingdom as a reward
which also becomes half when Cordelia is disowned.

Regan refuses to allow Lear to bring his knights into her castle. She and Goneril let
Lear walk off into a storm instead. She supports Cornwall when he
declares Gloucester a traitor and blinds him. After Cornwall dies, she vies
for Edmund with Goneril. Regan is killed by Goneril who poisons her.

The Earl of Kent

The Earl of Kent is a powerful noble who remains loyal to Lear throughout the play.
When Lear disowns Cordelia, Kent tries to defend her but Lear banishes him from
the kingdom. Kent disguises himself as a man called “Caius” so he can return and
serve Lear. He gains Lear’s trust as his servant.

Kent remains loyal to Lear during the storm and helps Lear to escape to Dover
where he reunites with Cordelia. It’s implied that Kent ends his life after Lear’s death
even though his title and lands are restored to him by Albany and Edgar.
The Earl of Gloucester
Gloucester is a powerful noble. He is loyal to King Lear. Gloucester has two
sons: Edgar who is legitimate and Edmund who is illegitimate. Gloucester claims to
love his sons equally but only Edgar will inherit his lands and title. Gloucester is
tricked by Edmund who claims that Edgar is plotting to kill his father so he can inherit
his wealth and title sooner.

Gloucester is betrayed by Edmund to Regan and Cornwall for his loyalty to Lear. He
is blinded by Cornwall and discovers he trusted the wrong son. Gloucester is cared
for by Edgar until he dies at the end of the play knowing that Edgar will get revenge
on Edmund.

The Duke of Cornwall

Cornwall is Regan’s husband. He is cruel and violent. He sides with Goneril and
Regan against Lear. He is responsible for blinding Gloucester after it's discovered
that Gloucester has remained loyal to Lear. Cornwall is wounded in a fight with a
servant who tries to stop the blinding of Gloucester. He later dies of his wounds.

The Duke of Albany

The Duke of Albany is Goneril’s husband. When Lear divides his kingdom, Albany
rules half of the kingdom with Goneril. He doesn’t like how Goneril treats Lear.
Throughout the play, he grows increasingly disgusted by the behaviour of
Goneril, Regan, and Cornwall. His marriage to Goneril isn’t happy. By the end of the
play, Albany is left to rule the kingdom alongside Edgar.

Lear’s Fool
The Fool is King Lear’s jester. He is also a close companion to Lear. He stays at
Lear’s side after the division of the kingdom and is his only companion when Lear is
out in the storm until Kent finds them. The Fool disappears during the storm and isn’t
present when Lear and Cordelia are taken prisoner. Throughout the play, the Fool
uses his wit to help Lear to realise what a mistake he made when he divided the
kingdom.

Edmund
Edmund is Gloucester’s younger son. He is illegitimate and resents being treated
differently from his older brother Edgar. He plots to steal Gloucester’s lands and titles
by framing Edgar. He convinces Gloucester that Edgar is plotting to kill him for his
inheritance. Edmund informs Cornwall that Gloucester is still loyal to Lear. Edmund
receives his father’s title and lands as a reward.

Edmund swears his love to Goneril and Regan but can’t decide which to marry.
Regan puts him in charge of her army and plans to marry him. After the battle,
Edmund is challenged to a duel by Edgar who kills him.
Edgar
Edgar is the oldest son of Gloucester and his legitimate heir. Edgar flees
after Edmund tricks Gloucester into thinking that Edgar is planning to kill him. He
disguises himself as a mad beggar called Poor Tom. As the beggar, Edgar
meets Lear in the storm. He then finds Gloucester and discovers he’s been blinded.
He guides Gloucester to Dover where he cares for him. Edgar finally reveals his
identity to his father before going to challenge Edmund in a duel. He defeats
Edmund and rules the kingdom with Albany.

Oswald
The steward (head servant) of Goneril’s household. He obeys his mistress and
delivers her letters. He is ordered to find Gloucester and kill him. Before he can carry
out this mission, Oswald is killed by Edgar.

The King of France

A potential suitor to Cordelia who agrees to marry her after she’s been disowned by
Lear. He sends an army with her to England to defend Lear against Goneril and
Regan.

The Duke of Burgundy

Another potential suitor to Cordelia who decides not to marry her after she’s
disinherited by Lear.

What is the plot of King Lear?

Here is an act-by-act guide to the plot of King Lear:

Act 1

Act 1 Scene 1
The play begins with the Earl of Kent and the Earl of Gloucester discussing King
Lear’s plan to divide the kingdom. Kent then meets with Edmund, Gloucester’s
illegitimate son, and discovers that he is a year younger than Edgar, Gloucester’s
legitimate son.

Lear and his court arrive. King Lear announces his plan to divide the kingdom
between his daughters Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. He asks his three daughters to
express how much they love him before rewarding them with a share of his
kingdom.

Goneril and Regan are his older daughters who both give speeches about how much
they love their father. However, his youngest daughter Cordelia refuses to give a
speech and simply says “I love your majesty according to my bond, no more nor
less”.

This makes Lear angry and he disowns Cordelia. He divides her share of the
kingdom between the husbands of Goneril and Regan. Kent tells Lear he’s wrong
out of loyalty to Lear and Cordelia. Lear doesn’t listen to Kent and banishes him from
the kingdom.

The King of France and the Duke of Burgundy are brought in. They are rivals to
marry Cordelia. Lear tells them what happened and Burgundy doesn’t want to marry
Cordelia anymore. France declares that he will marry Cordelia. Lear agrees and
leaves. Cordelia says goodbye to her sisters and leaves for France. When alone,
Goneril and Regan discuss Lear’s “poor judgement”.

Act 1 Scene 2
Edmund speaks to the audience about his illegitimacy. He resents that he’s treated
differently from his brother Edgar. He says “Legitimate Edgar, I must have your
land”. He has forged a letter from Edgar to make his plan happen.

Gloucester arrives and believes Edmund is trying to hide the letter from him.
Gloucester demands to read the letter. He discovers that it talks about a plot
suggested by Edgar that he and Edmund should work together to get rid of
Gloucester and divide his wealth between them. Gloucester is convinced that Edgar
is plotting against him. He leaves and Edmund is left with the audience.

Edgar then arrives and Edmund that their father is angry with him. Edgar believes
that someone is working against him and leaves.

Act 1 Scene 3
King Lear, his knights, and their squires are staying with Goneril. She complains to
her servant Oswald that her father’s courtiers are loud and that she is tired of them.
She also tells Oswald that Regan is tired of her father and his courtier’s behaviour.

Act 1 Scene 4
Kent arrives and tells the audience that he has disguised himself in order to keep
serving Lear. A disguised Kent impresses Lear and is allowed to serve
him. Oswald is punished for not behaving how Lear expects him to. Kent helps Lear
to punish Oswald.

Lear’s Fool arrives and offers Kent his coxcomb. This is a type of hat worn by a fool
or jester. Through word play the Fool suggests that Lear has been a fool to divide up
his kingdom.

Goneril then arrives and complains to Lear about his fool and other courtiers. Lear
becomes angry and curses her to be forever childless. He then leaves to stay
with Regan. Goneril calls Oswald and gives him a letter to deliver to Regan.
Act 1 Scene 5
Lear sends the disguised Kent to deliver letters to Regan to let her know that he’s
coming to stay with her. Lear is left with his Fool. Lear admits that he did wrong in
dividing up his kingdom and worries that he’s starting to go mad.

Act 2

Act 2 Scene 1
Edmund discovers that Regan and Cornwall are on their way to Gloucester’s house.
There are rumours of war developing between Cornwall and Albany who are the
husbands of Regan and Goneril. He hopes that Cornwall will help him in stealing his
brother’s lands. He tells Edgar to escape.

After Edgar flees, Edmund injures himself with his sword and pretends to Gloucester
that Edgar wounded him and ran away. He tells Gloucester that Edgar tried to
convince Edmund to join him in a plot to murder Gloucester.

Regan and Cornwall arrive and sympathise with Gloucester over Edgar’s betrayal.
Regan tells Gloucester that they have come seeking his advice on dealing with the
news received from Lear and Goneril.

Act 2 Scene 2
Oswald arrives at Gloucester’s house and meets Kent still in disguise. Oswald
doesn’t recognise him and the men argue. Kent draws his sword against
Oswald. Regan, Cornwall, Edmund, and Gloucester arrive to stop the fight but Kent
refuses to back down.

Cornwall orders that Kent be put in the stocks as punishment. Kent appeals to
Regan but she isn’t concerned. When Kent is left alone with the audience he shows
them a letter from Cordelia.

Later Edgar tells the audience that he plans to disguise himself as a beggar
called Poor Tom and run away.

Lear then arrives and wakes up Kent who is still in the stocks. Lear is shocked by
Kent’s punishment and is angry when Gloucester tells him that Regan and Cornwall
won’t see him. When they finally appear, Lear complains to Regan about Goneril.
Regan tells Lear to go back to Goneril.

When Goneril arrives, Regan takes her hand and they tell Lear that they will look
after him but not his many knights. Lear is angry and calls his daughters “unnatural
hags”. He leaves Regan’s castle while a storm is brewing which is an ominous sign
of things to come.
Act 3

Act 3 Scene 1
Kent is looking for Lear. A man tells him that Lear is out in the storm with only
his Fool for company. Kent sends the man to France with a ring to find Cordelia.

Act 3 Scene 2
Lear is shouting at the storm clouds. The Fool tries to calm him down but Lear
complains that even the weather is on the side of his older daughters. Kent arrives
and persuades Lear to find shelter.

Act 3 Scene 3
Gloucester tells Edmund that he is concerned about how Regan, Goneril,
and Cornwall have forbidden him to help Lear. He also tells Edmund about a secret
letter that’s locked in his wardrobe. Edmund tells the audience that he will report
everything that Gloucester told him to Cornwall once Gloucester leaves him alone.

Act 3 Scene 4
Kent has found shelter for Lear, the Fool, and himself. It’s a hovel. Before entering
the hovel, Lear wonders about the ordinary people in his kingdom who also don’t
have shelter. He thinks he’s been too careless in governing them.

The Fool comes out of the hovel having discovered the beggar called “Poor
Tom” inside. Edgar appears disguised as a mad beggar. Lear is intrigued by Poor
Tom and begins to take his clothes off to be more like Poor Tom. Gloucester finds
Lear. He tells Lear to follow him to a better shelter where there is fire and food. Lear
agrees to follow but only if he can bring Poor Tom with him.

Act 3 Scene 5
Edmund tells Cornwall what his father told him. He also shows Cornwall Gloucester’s
secret letter. He tells Cornwall that Gloucester is a traitor to his own country.
Cornwall praises Edmund and tells him that his actions have made him the new Earl
of Gloucester.

Act 3 Scene 6
Gloucester brings Lear, Kent, the Fool, and Poor Tom to the new shelter. Lear
complains about how badly his daughters have treated him. He sets up a mock trial
for Goneril and Regan. Kent eventually persuades Lear to get some rest. However,
Gloucester returns and warns that they need to leave immediately for Dover where
they’ll be safer.

Act 3 Scene 7
The news of Gloucester’s betrayal makes Regan and Goneril angry. Oswald arrives
with news that Lear and his men have set off for Dover. Goneril leaves for her house
with Edmund while Cornwall sends out servants to hunt down Gloucester.

Gloucester is caught, tied to a chair, and questioned. He admits to Regan that he’s
sent Lear to Dover. He tells her that “I would not see thy cruel nails pluck out his
poor old eyes”. Cornwall then gouges out one of Gloucester’s eyes.

Before he can take the other eye a servant calls out to tell him to stop. Cornwall kills
the servant and plucks out Gloucester’s other eye. Gloucester calls out for Edmund
but Regan tells Gloucester that it was Edmund who told them about the letter.
Gloucester realises that he’s trusted the wrong son.

Cornwall has been wounded in the fight with his servant. Regan orders her servants
to throw Gloucester out of the castle and “let him smell his way to Dover” before
helping Cornwall who is bleeding.

Act 4

Act 4 Scene 1
Edgar is still disguised as Poor Tom. He finds Gloucester being led by an old man
who lives on Gloucester’s land. He’s horrified to learn that his father has been
blinded. Edgar hears Gloucester admit that he’s been unfair to him. Gloucester asks
Poor Tom to lead him to the cliffs of Dover.

Act 4 Scene 2
Goneril arrives at her home with Edmund. Oswald tells her that her
husband Albany is behaving strangely and smiling at the news of a French invasion.
Goneril sends Edmund back to Cornwall. She kisses him.

Albany dislikes Goneril and Regan’s treatment of Lear. He says that they are more
like “tigers” than daughters. Goneril calls Albany a “milk-livered man” and “a moral
fool”. They argue until a messenger arrives saying that Cornwall has died from his
wounds.

Albany is shocked to hear that Cornwall blinded Gloucester and that Edmund
betrayed his father. Goneril is now worried that Regan will try to marry Edmund now
that she is a widow.

Act 4 Scene 3
Kent talks to a man in Dover about the letters that he sent to Cordelia about what
happened to Lear. The man tells Kent that Cordelia was very emotional reading the
letters. Her “tears and smiles” were like “sunshine and rain”. Kent tells the man
that Lear is nearby but is too ashamed to go to Cordelia.
Act 4 Scene 4
Cordelia is worried about her father. She sends people to look for Lear. A messenger
arrives to tell her that the British army is getting ready for battle. Cordelia prepares
for battle.

Act 4 Scene 5
Regan and Oswald discuss the impending battle. Oswald has brought messages
from Goneril. Regan tries to get Oswald to tell what is in the messages from Goneril
to Edmund but Oswald doesn’t tell her. Regan gives Oswald a message to give to
Edmund.

Act 4 Scene 6
Edgar, disguised as Poor Tom, takes Gloucester to Dover. Gloucester realises that
his guide’s voice has changed. Edgar convinces Gloucester that they are walking on
a high cliff. Gloucester gives Edgar some money and sends him away.

Gloucester falls forward believing that he’s thrown himself off the cliff. Edgar rushes
to check that Gloucester is still alive. He now pretends to be a passer-by on the
beach who saw the Gloucester fall.

Lear arrives. He is behaving strangely and is ranting about his daughters. Gloucester
recognises Lear’s voice. Lear learns that Gloucester has been blinded. Lear then
runs away, chased by three men sent to calm him down and bring him to Cordelia.
Edgar learns from one of the men that the French army is near.

Edgar takes Gloucester to a shelter. On the way, Oswald appears and tries to kill
Gloucester. Edgar kills Oswald. Oswald tells Edgar to bury his body and give the
letters to Edmund.

Edgar reads one of the letters from Goneril to Edmund. It asks Edmund to
kill Albany and marry Goneril. Edgar buries Oswald and takes Gloucester away.

Act 4 Scene 7
Lear has been brought to Cordelia. Cordelia meets Kent who asks her not to reveal
his identity yet. A doctor tells Cordelia that Lear is sleeping and asks if they can
wake him. Lear is brought in and Cordelia kisses him. Lear is confused when he
wakes up but recognises Cordelia.

Act 5

Act 5 Scene 1
Edmund has command of Regan’s troops. Regan questions him about his
relationship with Goneril. Edmund insists that he isn’t in love with Goneril.

Albany and Goneril arrive. Goneril convinces everyone to unite against the
French. Edgar stops Albany when the others have left, and gives him a letter. It says
that when Albany is winning, a trumpet must be blown and a “champion” will step
forward to prove the truth of the letter.

Edmund later asks the audience what he should do as he’s sworn his love to Goneril
and Regan and doesn’t know which one to choose. He also plans to stop the pardon
that Albany intends to give Lear and Cordelia for siding with the French.

Act 5 Scene 2
The battle begins. Edgar lets Gloucester rest. Soon he returns with news
that Lear has lost and he and Cordelia have been taken prisoner. Gloucester wants
to stay where he is but Edgar takes him away.

Act 5 Scene 3
Edmund orders his men to lock up Lear and Cordelia. Edmund secretly sends his
captain after them with a message to ensure that Lear and Cordelia are both killed.

Albany arrives with Regan and Goneril who are arguing about Edmund. Regan
wants to marry Edmund but is also very ill. Goneril admits to the audience that she
has poisoned her.

Albany arrests Edmund for treason. He calls Goneril a “gilded serpent” for her
promise to marry Edmund if he kills Albany.

A trumpet is blown and Edgar steps forward wearing full armour to hide his face.
Edgar accuses Edmund of treason. They fight and Edmund is defeated. Edgar
reveals his identity and tells everyone that he was disguised as Poor Tom and that
he looked after Gloucester. He also says that he told Gloucester who he was and
asked his permission to fight Edmund. Gloucester happily agreed and died.

A man enters with a bloody dagger saying that Goneril has killed herself after
admitting that she poisoned Regan.

Kent arrives dressed as himself. Albany orders that the bodies be brought in.
Edmund confesses to ordering his captain to kill Lear and Cordelia. Albany sends
men to try and save her.

However, they are too late and Lear enters carrying the body of Cordelia and crying.
Kent tries to tell Lear who he is and says that Goneril and Regan are dead but Lear
is too mad with grief. Lear dies.

Albany and Edgar are left to rule the kingdom.

What are the main themes of King Lear?
There are several themes of King Lear that William Shakespeare used to shape the
play’s plot:

Justice
King Lear is a brutal, tragic play. It’s filled with examples of human cruelty. The end
of the play shows that although the wicked die, the good also die alongside them.

The evil characters of Cornwall, Goneril, and Regan are all dead by the end of the
play. This shows that they have been punished in some way for their evil actions.
However, the play ends with King Lear holding the body of Cordelia. This makes it
difficult to decide whether good or evil has triumphed at the end of the play.

Power and Chaos

King Lear’s decision to give up his power not only alters the dynamics within his
family but affects his whole kingdom. Lear has toppled the traditional hierarchy of
power in Britain. His giving away of power allows Goneril, Regan, and
(indirectly) Edmund to begin their own rises to power. This chaos is reflected in the
weather when a storm rages over Lear as he wanders outside.

A World Without Meaning

Shakespeare paints the world of King Lear as very bleak. The accepted order of
things within the kingdom is toppled at the start of the play which leads to a world
without meaning where unjust things happen such as the blinding of Gloucester,
the disowning of Cordelia, and the betrayal of Edgar. The final unjust act of the play
is the death of Cordelia who dies for no reason: she hasn’t committed any crimes
and the order for her execution had been cancelled.

Forgiveness
Although King Lear is a dark and tragic play, there is a theme of
reconciliation and forgiveness. Characters like Lear and Cordelia, Lear and Kent,
and Gloucester and Edgar all reconcile with each other. By the end of the
play. Cordelia, Kent, and Edgar forgive the actions of Lear and Gloucester.

The most obvious characters who reconcile are Lear and Cordelia as the play begins
with Lear banishing Cordelia and disinheriting her. Cordelia doesn’t resent her father
for his actions. She sends a French army to rescue him from Goneril and Regan’s
cruelty. During the play, Lear learns how unfeeling he’s been towards Cordelia and
becomes a more humble man. By the end of the play, Lear has reunited with
Cordelia and she forgives him.