King Lear Summaries

Act 1 -Scene 1

• Scene opens with Gloucester and Kent discussing the fact that King Lear is stepping down as King.
• King Lear enters and announces that he will split his land between his 3 daughters (Goneril, Regan and Cordelia).
• He asks his daughters to prove their love for him by confessing their love, before they are allotted the land.
• Goneril and Regan do, Cordelia refuses.
• King Lear disowns Cordelia. Kent asks him to reconsider. Lear banishes Kent.
• King of France agrees to marry Cordelia without any land.
• Goneril and Regan discuss Lear's rash behaviour.

Act 1 -Scene 2

• Scene opens with Edmund's soliloquy - expresses bitterness for the way he is treated as a 'bastard'. Says that he will cheat Edgar out of the land he is due to inherit.
• Edmund forges a letter with a plan to kill Gloucester and signs it as Edgar.
• Gloucester (father) enters the room, Edmund fakes trying to hide it which makes Gloucester suspicious, Gloucester reads the letter and thinks Edgar wants to kill him.
• Edmund meets with Edgar and tells him that father is angry and that he should avoid him and carry a sword for protection.
• Edmund gloats about his plan - talks about fathers gullibility and brothers naivety.

Act 1 -Scene 3

• Lear goes to stay with Goneril however, she is unhappy with this and complains that his people act unruly. (nobody knows if this is true because only Goneril made this claim)
• Goneril instructs her servant Oswald to be rude to Lear to make their home less inviting and to provoke Lear.
• She writes to Regan to advise her to do the same to Lear.

Act 1 -Scene 4

• Kent comes back and disguises himself as a servant to Lear.
• As instructed, Oswald is rude to Lear and Kent is shocked at his behaviour, he trips Oswald up as punishment.
• The Fool teases Lear about giving away his Kingdom, labeling Lear the 'fool'
• Goneril scolds Lear for the behaviour of his knights, she tells Lear that she is reducing his number of knights to fifty.
• Lear is outraged and speaks sharply to his daughter, comparing her to an animal.
• Lear criticises himself for his poor judgement and questions his identity.
• Lear leaves for Regan's castle.

Act 1 -Scene 5

• Lear sends letters ahead to Regan giving his version of the dispute with Goneril.
• The Fool warns Lear that Regan will treat him the same way that Goneril did (which turns out to be true)
• Lear expresses first concerns about his own sanity.

Act 2 -Scene 1

• Edmund is told that there is tension between Cornwall (Regans husband) and Albany (Gonerils husband) which may lead to war.
• Edmund tricks Edgar by telling him his hiding place has been found and he must take cover under darkness.
• Edmund wounds himself and tells Gloucester that Edgar did it after trying to include him in the plot to kill Gloucester.
• Gloucester sends men out to find Edgar and tells Edmund that he will benefit from his will.
• Cornwall expresses support for Edmund.

Act 2 -Scene 2

• Oswald and Kent arrive at Gloucesters castle, Kent harshly criticises Oswald using language and then draws his sword on Oswald.
• The fight is parted by Edmund.
• Cornwall, Regan and Gloucester arrive and Kent is rude to Cornwall. Cornwall orders Kent to be sent to the stocks as punishment.
• Gloucester argues on Kent's behalf but is not listened to.
• Kent is contacted by Cordelia in the stocks and reads a letter from her.

Act 2 -Scene 3

• In soliloquy, Edgar explains how he narrowly escaped and in order to avoid capture he decides to disguise himself as a mad beggar "Poor Tom".

Act 2 -Scene 4

• Lear finds Kent in the stocks and can't believe that his daughters would treat his messenger like this.
• Lear complains to Regan about the manner in which he was treated by Goneril, but to Lear's surprise, Regan sides with her sister.
• Regan and Goneril decide to further reduce Lear's number of knights.
• Lear refuses to stay with either daughter and leaves the castle in the middle of a storm.
• Gloucester tries to vouch on behalf on Lear but Regan, Goneril or Cornwall have no interest in stopping or comforting Lear.

Act 3 -Scene 1

• While in the storm trying to find Lear, Kent finds a gentleman who tells him that Lear is in the middle of the storm with only the Fool.
• Kent explains that the French soldiers have arrived at Dover and asks the gentleman to bring a message to Cordelia. He gives the man his ring so Cordelia will know who the message is from.
• Kent leaves to continue the search for Lear.

Act 3 - Scene 2

• Lear has a fit of insanity and roars at the storm to bring destruction to the world and himself.
• The Fool urges Lear to escape the storm and return to his daughters.
• After searching for him, Kent finds Lear and Lear says that he is a victim. 'a man /more sinned against than sinning'.
• Kent leads Lear to a shelter in a hovel and there are signs that Lear is starting to grow in wisdom through his suffering.

Act 3 -Scene 3

• Gloucester tells Edmund that he is unhappy with the way Lear was treated by his daughters. He says that they have taken control of his house and forbidden him to help Lear.
• Gloucester says he received a letter with information about the arrival of French forces and says that he intends to aid Lear even though he may be killed for doing so.
• When Gloucester leaves, Edmund says that he will inform Cornwall of all Gloucester intends on doing in the hope that he would win the Duke's favour and be given Gloucester's estate.

Act 3 -Scene 4

• Lear insists that Kent and the Fool enter the hovel before him.
• The Fool thinks there is a spirit in the hovel, Edgar (disguised as Poor Tom) emerges.
• Lear believes Poor Tom is in a wretched state because he was mistreated by his daughters, Lear tears off his clothes in an act of solidarity with Edgar (tom)
• Gloucester arrives and looks to provide Lear with food and shelter.

Act 3 -Scene 5

• Edmund talks with Cornwall after alerting him about Gloucester's plans. Edmund pretends to be upset that he informed on his father and tells Cornwall he feels torn between his father and his loyalty to Cornwall.
• Cornwall rewards Edmund by making him Earl of Gloucester.
• Edmund swears allegiance to Cornwall and in return, Cornwall offers to act as a father to Edmund from then on.

Act 3 -Scene 6

• Gloucester brings Lear and the others to find shelter in a farmhouse on his estate.
• Lear conducts a mock -trial of Goneril and Regan, The Fool and Edgar (poor tom) act as assistant judges.
• Gloucester urges Kent to bring Lear to safety in Dover but Kent worries that Lear needs rest to soothe his nerves.
• The scene ends with Edgar's soliloquy where he acknowledges that Lear's suffering is greater than his own.
• Edgar decides that he will reveal his true identity when his name is cleared.

Act 3 -Scene 7

• Cornwall sends Goneril to alert Albany that the French forces have arrived at Dover. Oswald tells Cornwall that Lear is on his way to Dover.
• Gloucester is bound and brought before Cornwall and Regan, they question him and label him a traitor. Regan plucks his beard. Cornwall gouges out one of his eyes and stamps on it. Regan calls for the other eye to be gouged.
• A servant intervenes and Cornwall attacks him but is seriously wounded in the process.
• Gloucester calls out for Edmund, Regan mocks him and tells him that Edmund was the one that betrayed him. Gloucester now sees that Edgar was innocent, Gloucester is cast out of the castle.
• Two servants comment on the cruelty of Regan and Cornwall and decide to bring Gloucester to Poor Tom to be led.

Act 4 - Scene 1

• Edgar (soliloquy) reflects on wretchedness and poverty.
• Edgar see's his old father being led by an old man and is moved by the sight of his father in such wretchedness.
• Gloucester gives Edgar (poor tom) his money purse and asks Edgar to lead him to Dover where he intends on killing himself by jumping from a cliff.
• Edgar agrees to lead him.

Act 4 -Scene 2

• Coming back from Albany's castle, Oswald tells Goneril that Albany has sided with Lear and Gloucester.
• Edmund and Goneril display affection, their language loaded with sexual suggestion. Goneril desires Edmund as a lover and someone to rule the castle with.
• Albany is deeply critical of Goneril's harsh treatment of Lear and Gloucester.
• A messenger announces Cornwall's death and Goneril then see's Regan as a competitor for Edmund's love.

Act 4 -Scene 3

• At Dover, Kent talks with a gentleman and learns that the King of France has returned to his kingdom on a matter of urgency.
• Kent asks about Cordelia's reaction to the letter about Lear. The man explains that she was moved by Lear's suffering but admirably retained her composure.
• The audience learns that Lear is reluctant to meet with Cordelia as he is ashamed of the way in which he treated her.
• Kent says that he will remain in disguise as Lears servant for a while longer.

Act 4 -Scene 4

• Cordelia describes Lear's mad behaviour saying he has been seen signing in fields wearing a crown of weeds and flowers. She sends soldiers out to look for him.
• Cordelia hopes a herbal remedy can be found to cure him.
• A messenger warns of the approaching British forces and Cordelia says that her army is prepared.
• Cordelia admits she is motivated to go to war by love over ambition.

Act 4 -Scene 5

• Regan learns that Goneril has sent Edmund a letter and understands that Goneril is her rival for Edmund.
• Through Oswald, Regan sends a message to Goneril saying that she is a more suitable partner and that Goneril should stop making advances.
• Regan declares that she will promote anybody who kills Gloucester.

Act 4 -Scene 6

• Edgar (poor tom) leads Gloucester and convinces him that they are at the edge of the cliff, Gloucester jumps from what he thinks is the cliff.
• Edgar pretends to be somebody on the beach and tells Gloucester that he saw him land safely.
• Gloucester decides to endure his life until he dies naturally.
• Lear arrives and talks about money protecting sinners and criminals, he then runs away from the group searching for him on behalf of Cordelia.
• Army is fast approaching, Edgar offers to lead Gloucester to safety, meet Oswald, Oswald wants to kill Gloucester, Edgar fights and kills Oswald.
• Edgar takes the letter written by Goneril to Edmund asking him to kill Albany, he decides to deliver the letter to Albany.

Act 4 -Scene 7

• Cordelia thanks Kent for his loyalty to Lear, Kent wishes to remain in disguise for another while.
• Lear is carried onto stage, asleep in his royal robes. He wakes and thinks he is dead, he thinks Cordelia is an angel.
• He recognises Cordelia and begs her forgiveness, she says he has no need to ask for it.
• Kent and a gentleman discuss the impending battle, the man says that Edmund leads Cornwall's army.

Act 5 -Scene 1

• Regan questions Edmund about Goneril. Goneril suspects Regan wants to keep her from Edmund.
• Albany brings news that Lear and other rebels have joined forces with the French army.
• Edmund (soliloquy) wonders which sister (goneril or regan) he should remain romantically attached to. He reveals his intentions to have Cordelia and Lear murdered after the war.

Act 5 -Scene 2

• Edgar helps Gloucester to under a tree where he can rest.
• Edgar leaves and returns with the news that the armies loyal to Lear have lost the battle. He tells Gloucester that Lear and Cordelia have been captured.
• Edgar urges Gloucester to hurry away with him, Gloucester wants to stay but he is eventually convinced.

Act 5 -Scene 3

• Lear and Cordelia are imprisoned by Edmund, Lear tells Cordelia that together they can make it through. Edmund sends a captain to kill Lear and Cordelia.
• Albany demands to take charge over Lear and Cordelia.
• Regan and Goneril defend Edmund and they argue jealously. Regan begins to feel sick after being poisoned by Goneril.
• Albany sounds a trumpet and calls for a champion to challenge Edmund. Edgar (in disguise) answers the call. Edgar mortally wounds Edmund,
• Edgar reveals that he cared for Gloucester.
• Edmund arrives with the news that Goneril has killed herself and Regan is poisoned.
• Edmund tries to stop the deaths of Lear and Cordelia which he ordered.
• Lear arrives with Cordelia's lifeless body and while he mourns for her, he dies. Kent says he will follow his master into the afterlife.
• Edmund dies off stage from the wounds Edgar inflicted.