| King Lear |
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The play begins with the Earl of Gloucester introducing his illegitimate son, Edmund, to the Earl of Kent when Lear, King of Britain, enters with his court. Now he is an old man Lear has decided to abdicate and to divide his kingdom between his three daughters. The division will depend on the Princesses' spoken responses before the court to their father's demand that each should say how much she loves him. Goneril, Duchess of Albany, and Regan, Duchess of Cornwall both speak enthusiastically and earn their father's praise but Cordelia, the youngest, can say nothing. Her deep love for Lear cannot be voiced and, misunderstood, she is disowned. Cordelia's suitor, the Duke of Burgundy, rejects her once she is dowerless but the King of France values her honesty and takes her as his wife, while the Earl of Kent is banished for taking Cordelia's part against the King. The kingdom is shared between Goneril and Regan, and it is arranged that Lear will live alternately with each of them. Meanwhile, Edmund is determined to be recognised as a rightful son of Gloucester and by a trick he persuades his father that his legitimate brother, Edgar, is plotting against Gloucester's life. Warned by Edmund that his life is in danger, Edgar flees and takes the disguise of a Bedlam beggar. Edmund becomes a courtier to Goneril while she and Albany grow increasingly exasperated by the behaviour of Lears hundred companions, who are upsetting life at Albany's castle. Kent has returned in disguise and wins a place as a servant to Lear, helping the King against Goneril's proud servant, Oswald. Kent accompanies Lear who, in a rage against her criticisms, curses Goneril and leaves to make his home, unannounced, with Regan and Cornwall. Edmund is employed as a messenger between the sisters and is courted by each in turn. He persuades Cornwall that Gloucester is an enemy because, through loyalty to his King, the earl assists Lear and his devoted companion, the Fool, when they are turned away by Regan and told to return to Goneril's household. Despairing of these daughters and deeply regretting his rejection of Cordelia, Lear goes mad at the height of~a great storm. He and the Fool run wild on the heath until Gloucester takes them into a hut for shelter and seeks the aid of Kent to get them away to the coast, where Cordelia has landed with a French army to fight for her father against her sisters and their husbands. The shelter is where Edgar has also taken refuge and the Fool, the mad king and the disguised "insane" beggar are companions until Edgar finds his father wandering and in pain. Gloucester has been blinded by Regan and Cornwall in return for the assistance he has given to Lear. Cornwall has been killed in the act of blinding Gloucester but Regan continues to rule with Edmund's help. Not recognised by his father, Edgar leads him to the coast and helps him, during the journey, to come to an acceptance of his life. Gloucester meets the mad Lear on Dover beach, near Cordelias camp but, with Kent's aid, Lear is rescued and re-united with Cordelia, and Gloucester, restored to Edgar, dies quietly alone. The French forces are overcome by Albany's army led by Edmund, and Lear and Cordelia are captured. Goneril has already poisoned Regan in jealous rivalry for Edmund's attention but Edgar, disguised now as a loyal knight, challenges Edmund to a duel and wounds him mortally. Seeing no way out, Goneril kills herself and the dying Edmund confesses his misdeeds, but it is too late to save Cordelia from the hangman. Lear's heart breaks as he carries the body of his beloved youngest daughter in his arms, and Albany and Edgar are left to re-organise the kingdom and resolve the civil wars. King Lear was probably written in 1605-1606. It was performed at court on 26 December 1606 and was first published in 1608. © Marian J. Pringle
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