KING LEAR SUMMARY:

King Lear is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain.King
Lear is about political authority as much as it is about family dynamics. Lear is not only a father but also a
king, and when he gives away his authority to the unworthy and evil Goneril and Regan, he delivers not
only himself and his family but all of Britain into chaos and cruelty.

Lear, King of Britain, in an attempt to avoid future strife, divides his kingdom between his three
daughters. His eldest two, Regan (wife of Cornwall) and Gonerill (wife of Albany), The division will
depend on the quality of each princess' declarations of love for her father before the court. Goneril,
Duchess of Albany, and Regan, Duchess of Cornwall, both speak enthusiastically and earn their father's
praise. But Cordelia, the youngest, says nothing because she cannot voice her deep love for Lear
Misunderstanding his daughter, Lear disowns and banishes her from the kingdom. He also banishes the
Earl of Kent, who had taken Cordelia's side against the King.

On the other side, The Earl of Gloucester’s bastard son Edmund has hunger for power a devious man
who is planning to gain his Brother Edgar’s lands by disinheriting him. He convinces Gloucester that
Edgar is plotting against him, and then manipulated both his brother and father to turn against each
other. To avoid arrest, Edgar disguises himself as a mad beggar, Poor Tom. Edmund is taken into
Cornwall’s service. Goneril meanwhile frustrated by the behavior of Lear's hundred companions who are
upsetting her life at Albany's castle, and she criticises her father. 

Lear begins a series of visits to Gonerill and Regan, followed by a disguised and loyal Kent. Kent insults
Gonerill’s steward Oswald,( a loyal servent of gonerill) and Lear takes him into his service. Gonerill
then quarrels with Lear, who leaves her castle to go to Regan’s. Kent is sent ahead, but he quarrels
again with Oswald, and is put in the stocks by Regan, who supports her sister’s attitude. The sisters
meet together with Lear, and tell him to dismiss some and then all of his followers. He leaves the
castle in a rage, going out into a violent storm accompanied only by his Fool and Kent. Lear harangues
the storm, then meets Poor Tom, whom he treats as a counsellor.

Gloucester tells Edmund of his intention to help Lear, and advises Kent to take Lear to Dover, where
Cordelia and a French army are to be found. But Edmund has informed on Gloucester to Cornwall, and
when Gloucester returns to the castle he is accused of being a traitor, his eyes are put out, and he is
thrown out into the wilderness. In the melee, Cornwall is killed by a servant. Edgar encounters his
blind father, and, as Poor Tom, journeys with him to Dover, where Gloucester finds Lear.

There is growing animosity between Albany and Gonerill, who is showing increasing affection to
Edmund, who also has a liaison with Regan. Oswald, taking a letter from Gonerill to Edmund,
encounters Gloucester, but before he can harm him he is killed by Edgar. Lear is found by Cordelia’s
army, and they are reconciled, but they are then taken prisoner by Edmund’s soldiers, and Edmund
orders them both to be killed.

After the battle, Gonerill and Regan both encounter Edmund and display their feelings for him.

Albany challenges Edmund, and a disguised Edgar appears to fight him. Regan dies, poisoned by
Gonerill, and Gonerill takes her own life when her husband hears of her betrayal. Edmund is fatally
wounded and Edgar reveals himself. An order is sent to cancel Lear and Cordelia’s execution, but it
arrives too late to save Cordelia. Lear carries her in, and soon after dies of a broken heart. Albany
abdicates, leaving Kent and Edgar to rule the realm; but Kent announces that he has a journey to go
on like his master. Edgar reflects on the future.