King Lear by William Shakespeare
"King Lear" is a tragedy by William Shakespeare that explores themes of power, loyalty, and the complexities of familial relationships. The story revolves around King Lear, who, in a misguided attempt to secure his legacy, decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on their declarations of love for him. His two elder daughters, Goneril and Regan, flatter him with grand expressions of affection, while the youngest, Cordelia, truthfully states that her love is deeper than words can convey. Lear, enraged by Cordelia's honesty, disowns her, leading to tragic consequences.
The play unfolds as Lear descends into madness after realizing the true nature of Goneril and Regan's love, which turns out to be manipulative and cruel. Parallel to Lear's story is that of the Earl of Gloucester, who is deceived by his illegitimate son, Edmund, leading to betrayal and tragedy. As the narrative progresses, themes of justice and redemption emerge, culminating in a harrowing finale where personal losses and the futility of power come to the forefront. The play is marked by its exploration of human nature and the often-painful lessons of trust and betrayal, leaving a lasting impact on its audience.
King Lear by William Shakespeare
First produced: ca. 1605–6; first published, 1608
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Tragedy
Time of plot: First century b.c.e.
Locale: Britain
Principal Characters
King Lear of Britain ,King of France ,Duke of Cornwall ,Duke of Albany ,Earl of Kent ,Earl of Gloucester ,Edgar , Gloucester’s legitimate sonEdmund , Gloucester’s illegitimate sonGoneril , ,Regan , andCordelia , Lear’s daughters
The Story
King Lear, in foolish fondness for his children, decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters. Grown senile, he scoffs at the foresight of his advisers and declares that each girl’s statement of her love for him will determine the portion of the kingdom she receives as her dowry. Goneril, his oldest daughter and the duchess of Albany, speaks first. She says that she loves her father more than eyesight, space, liberty, or life itself. Regan, the duchess of Cornwall, announces that the sentiment of her love was expressed by Goneril but that Goneril stopped short of the statement of Regan’s love. Cordelia, who secretly confides that her love is more ponderous than her tongue, tells her father that because her love is in her heart, not in her mouth, she is willing to sacrifice eloquence for truth. Lear angrily tells her that truth alone should be her dowry and orders that her part of the kingdom be divided between Goneril and Regan. Lear’s disappointment in Cordelia’s statement grows into a rage against the Earl of Kent, who tries to plead for Cordelia with the foolish king. Because of Kent’s blunt speech, he is given ten days to leave the country. Loving his sovereign, he risks death by disguising himself and remaining in Britain to care for Lear in his infirmity.
When Burgundy and France come as suitors to ask Cordelia’s hand in marriage, Burgundy, learning of her dowerless fate, rejects her. France, honoring Cordelia for her virtues, takes her as his wife, but Lear dismisses Cordelia and France without his benediction. Goneril and Regan, wary of their father’s vacillation in his weakened mental state, set about to establish their kingdoms against change.
Lear is not long in learning what Goneril’s and Regan’s claims of love for him really mean. Their caustic comments about the old man’s mental and physical feebleness furnish Lear’s fool with many points for philosophical recriminations against the king. Realizing that his charity to his daughters makes him homeless, Lear cries in anguish against his fate. His prayers go unanswered, and his daughters’ abuse hastens his derangement.
The Earl of Gloucester, like Lear, is fond of his two children. Edmund, a bastard who is afraid that his illegitimacy will deprive him of his share of Gloucester’s estate, forges a letter over Edgar’s signature, stating that the sons should not have to wait for their fortunes until they are too old to enjoy them. Gloucester, refusing to believe that Edgar desires his father’s death, is told by Edmund to wait in hiding and hears Edgar make assertions that could easily be misinterpreted against him. Edmund, furthering his scheme, tells Edgar that villainy is afoot and that Edgar should not go unarmed at any time.
To complete his evil design, he later advises Edgar to flee for his own safety. After cutting his arm, he then tells his father that he was wounded while he and Edgar fought over Gloucester’s honor. Gloucester, swearing that Edgar will not escape justice, has his son’s description circulated so that he may be apprehended.
Edmund, meanwhile, allies himself with the dukes of Cornwall and Albany to defend Britain against the French army mobilized by Cordelia and her husband to avenge Lear’s cruel treatment. Edmund wins Regan and Goneril completely by his personal attentions to them and sets the sisters against each other by arousing their jealousy.
Lear, wandering as an outcast on the stormy heath, is aided by Kent, disguised as a peasant. Seeking protection from the storm, they find the hut where Edgar, pretending to be a madman, took refuge. Gloucester, searching for the king, finds them there and urges them to hurry to Dover, where Cordelia and her husband will protect Lear from the wrath of his unnatural daughters.
Because he attempts to give succor and condolence to the outcast Lear, Gloucester is blinded when Cornwall, acting on information furnished by Edmund, gouges out his eyes. While he is at his grisly work, a servant, rebelling against the cruel deed, wounds Cornwall. Regan kills the servant, but Cornwall dies later as the result of his wound. Edgar, still playing the part of a madman, finds his father wandering the fields with an old retainer. Edgar, who refrains from revealing his identity, promises to guide his father to Dover, where Gloucester plans to die by throwing himself from the high cliffs.
Goneril becomes bitterly jealous when widowed Regan is able to receive the full attention of Edmund, who has been made Earl of Gloucester. She declares that she would rather lose the battle to France than lose Edmund to Regan. Goneril’s hatred becomes more venomous when Albany, whom she detests because of his kindliness toward Lear and his pity for Gloucester, announces that he will try to right the wrongs done by Goneril, Regan, and Edmund.
Cordelia, informed by messenger of her father’s fate, is in the French camp near Dover. When the mad old king is brought to her by the faithful Kent, she cares for her father tenderly and puts him in the care of a doctor skilled in curing many kinds of ills. When he regains his reason, Lear recognizes Cordelia, but the joy of their reunion is clouded by his repentance for having misunderstood and mistreated his only loyal daughter.
Edgar, protecting Gloucester, is accosted by Oswald, Goneril’s steward, on his way to deliver a note to Edmund. In the fight that ensues, Edgar kills Oswald; he then delivers the letter to Albany, in which Goneril declares her love for Edmund and asks that he kill her husband. Gloucester dies, feeble and brokenhearted after Edgar reveals himself to his father. Edmund, who commands the British forces, takes Lear and Cordelia as prisoners. When they are led to prison, he sends along written instructions for how they are to be treated.
Albany, aware of Edmund’s ambition for personal glory, arrests him on a charge of high treason. Regan intercedes for her lover but is rebuffed by Goneril. Regan is suddenly taken ill and carried to Albany’s tent. When Edmund, as is his right, demands a trial by combat, Albany agrees. Edgar, still in disguise, appears and in the fight mortally wounds his false brother. Goneril, learning from Albany that he knows of her plot against his life, is desperate. She goes to their tent, poisons Regan, and kills herself.
Edmund, dying, reveals that he and Goneril ordered Cordelia to be hanged and her death to be announced as suicide because of her despondency over her father’s plight. Edmund, fiendish and diabolical always, is also vain. As he lies dying, he looks upon the bodies of Goneril and Regan and expresses pleasure that two women are dead because of their jealous love for him.
Albany dispatches Edgar to prevent Cordelia’s death, but he arrives too late. Lear refuses all assistance when he appears carrying her dead body in his arms. After asking forgiveness of heartbroken Kent, whom he recognizes at last, Lear, a broken, confused old man, dies in anguish. Edgar and Albany alone are left to rebuild a country ravaged by bloodshed and war.
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