King Lear, who is elderly, wants to
retire from power. He decides to divide his realm among his three daughters,
and offers the largest share to the one who loves him best. Goneril and Regan
both proclaim in fulsome terms that they love him more than anything in the
world, which pleases him. For Cordelia, there is nothing to compare her love
to, nor words to properly express it; she speaks honestly but bluntly, which
infuriates him. In his anger he disinherits her, and divides the kingdom
between Regan and Goneril. Kent objects to this unfair treatment. Lear is
further enraged by Kent's protests, and banishes him from the country.
Cordelia's two suitors enter. Learning that Cordelia has been disinherited, the
Duke of Burgundy withdraws his suit, but the King of France is impressed by her
honesty and marries her.
Lear announces he will live alternately
with Goneril and Regan, and their husbands, the Dukes of Albany and Cornwall
respectively. He reserves to himself a retinue of one hundred knights, to be
supported by his daughters. Goneril and Regan speak privately, agreeing that
Lear is old and foolish.
Edmund resents his illegitimate status,
and plots to dispose of his legitimate older brother Edgar. He tricks their
father Gloucester with a forged letter, making him think Edgar plans to usurp
the estate. Kent returns from exile in disguise under the name of Caius, and
Lear hires him as a servant. Lear discovers that now that Goneril has power,
she no longer respects him. She orders him to behave better and reduces his
retinue. Enraged, Lear departs for Regan's home. The Fool mocks Lear's
misfortune. Edmund fakes an attack by Edgar, and Gloucester is completely taken
in. He disinherits Edgar and proclaims him an outlaw.
Kent meets Oswald at Gloucester's home,
quarrels with him, and is put in the stocks by Regan and her husband Cornwall.
When Lear arrives, he objects, but Regan takes the same line as Goneril. Lear
is enraged but impotent. Goneril arrives and echoes Regan. Lear yields
completely to his rage. He rushes out into a storm to rant against his
ungrateful daughters, accompanied by the mocking Fool. Kent later follows to
protect him. Gloucester protests against Lear's mistreatment. Wandering on the
heath after the storm, Lear meets Edgar, in the guise of Tom o’Beldam, that is,
a madman. Edgar babbles madly while Lear denounces his daughters. Kent leads
them all to shelter.
Edmund betrays Gloucester to Cornwall,
Regan, and Goneril. He shows a letter from his father to the King of France
asking for help against them; and in fact a French army has landed in Britain.
Gloucester is arrested, and Cornwall gouges out his eyes. As he is doing so, a
servant is overcome with rage by what he is witnessing and attacks Cornwall,
mortally wounding him. Regan kills the servant, and tells Gloucester that
Edmund betrayed him; then she turns him out to wander the heath too. Edgar, in
his madman's guise as Tom, meets blinded Gloucester on the heath. Gloucester
begs Tom to lead him to a cliff at Dover so that he may jump to his death.
Goneril meets Edmund and discovers that
she finds him more attractive than her honest husband Albany, whom she regards
as cowardly. Albany is disgusted by the sisters' treatment of Lear, and the
mutilation of Gloucester, and denounces Goneril. Kent leads Lear to the French
army, which is accompanied by Cordelia. But Lear is half-mad and terribly
embarrassed by his earlier follies. Albany leads the British army to meet the French.
Regan too is attracted to Edmund, and the two sisters become jealous of each
other. Goneril sends Oswald with letters to Edmund and also tells Oswald to
kill Gloucester if he sees him. Edgar pretends to lead Gloucester to a cliff,
then changes his voice and tells Gloucester he has miraculously survived a
great fall. They meet Lear, who is now completely mad. Lear rants that the
whole world is corrupt and runs off.
Oswald tries to kill Gloucester but is
slain by Edgar. In Oswald's pocket, Edgar finds a letter from Goneril to Edmund
suggesting he murder Albany and take his place as her husband. Kent and
Cordelia take charge of Lear, whose madness largely passes. Regan, Goneril,
Albany, and Edmund meet with their forces. Albany insists that they fight the French
invaders but not harm Lear or Cordelia. The two sisters lust for Edmund, who
has made promises to both. He considers the dilemma and plots the deaths of
Albany, Lear, and Cordelia. Edgar gives Goneril's letter to Albany. The armies
meet in battle, the British defeat the French, and Lear and Cordelia are
captured. Edmund sends them off with secret orders for execution.
The victorious British leaders meet,
and Regan now declares she will marry Edmund. But Albany exposes the intrigues
of Edmund and Goneril and proclaims Edmund a traitor. Regan collapses; Goneril
has poisoned her. Edmund defies Albany, who calls for a trial by combat. Edgar
appears to fight Edmund and fatally stabs him in a duel. Albany shows Goneril's
letter to her; she flees in shame and rage. Edgar reveals himself; Gloucester
dies offstage from the overwhelming shock and joy of this revelation.
Offstage, Goneril stabs herself and
confesses to poisoning Regan. Dying Edmund reveals his order to kill Lear and
Cordelia, but it is too late: Cordelia is dead though Lear slew the killer.
Lear carries the dead Cordelia in his arms onstage. Lear immediately recognizes
Kent. Albany urges Lear to resume his throne, but Lear is too far gone in grief
and hardship. Lear collapses and dies. Albany offers to share power between
Kent and Edgar. Kent declines, saying that he has to join Lear, hinting at his
own suicide. At the end, either Albany or Edgar (depending on whether one reads
the Quarto or the Folio version) is crowned King.
