King Lear - The Plot


King Lear, in his old age, decides to abdicate and divide his kingdom between his three daughters, allocating the land according to which of them loves him most. When Cordelia, the youngest and favourite child, refuses to make a public declaration of love, she is disinherited and married off to the King of France without a dowry. The two elder daughters, Goneril and Regan, inherit the kingdom. The loyal Earl of Kent, is banished for daring to argue with Lear but returns, disguised as a servant, to follow his old master.

Edmund, bastard son of the Earl of Gloucester, embarks on a plot to disinherit his legitimate brother Edgar by persuading his father that Edgar intends to murder him. Edgar is forced to go into hiding to save his life.

Lear, now stripped of his power, quarrels with Goneril and Regan about the treatment shown to him and his knights whilst lodging in their households. In a rage he goes out into the stormy night, accompanied only by the Fool and the disguised Kent. Whilst seeking shelter, they meet but do not recognize Edgar, now disguised as Poor Tom, a mad beggar.

Gloucester takes Lear to his castle and, knowing that Goneril and Regan are plotting to kill him, sends him secretly to Dover, where Cordelia has landed with a French army. However, Gloucester is betrayed and captured by Regan and her husband, who put out his eyes. Wandering blind, he meets, but does not know, his son Edgar, still disguised as Poor Tom, who leads him to Dover. Lear and Cordelia are reconciled but in the ensuing battle are captured by the sisters' forces.

Goneril and Regan are both in love with Edmund, who encourages them both. Discovering this, Goneril's husband Albany forces Edmund to defend himself agaist the charge of treachery. A mysterious knight appears to challenge Edmund and, after fatally wounding him, reveals himself to be Edgar. News comes that Goneril has poisoned her sister and then committed suicide. Before dying, Edmund reveals that he has ordered the deaths of Lear and Cordelia and although Albany attempts to countermand the order, he is too late. Finding his daughter dead, Lear himself dies.