The Shakespeare Book

252

K

ing Lear renounces his

throne and divides the

kingdom among his three

daughters. He asks each to profess

her love for him, so that he may

decide who will gain the larger

share. Goneril and Regan play

along, but Cordelia refuses to

flatter. She is banished, along with

the Earl of Kent. The King of France

offers marriage to Cordelia, and

they depart for France. Kent adopts

the disguise of the servant Caius.

Shortly after Cordelia’s

banishment, the Earl of Gloucester

is estranged from his elder son,

KING LEAR

Edgar. In a plot contrived by the

illegitimate Edmond to steal his

brother Edgar’s inheritance,

Gloucester is tricked into thinking

that Edgar seeks to kill him and

seize his land. Edgar is pursued

by the law, but disguises himself

as the beggar Poor Tom.

Lear takes up residence at

the court of his eldest daughter,

Goneril, and her husband, Albany,

but she accuses her father of rowdy

behavior. Lear curses her with

barrenness and leaves for Regan’s

house, only to find that she and her

husband, Cornwall, are away from

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE

King Lear King of Britain.

Goneril Lear’s eldest

daughter, married to Albany,

but becomes adulterously

involved with Edmond.

Duke of Albany Goneril’s

husband.

Regan Lear’s middle

daughter, married to Cornwall,

later pursues Edmond as her

second husband.

Duke of Cornwall Regan’s

husband.

Cordelia Lear’s youngest

daughter, later becomes the

Queen of France.

Duke of Burgundy Cordelia’s

first suitor.

King of France Cordelia’s

second suitor.

The Fool Lear’s court jester,

very close to Cordelia, whose

absence he mourns.

Earl of Kent One of Lear’s

most loyal followers. Later

disguises himself as a

servant named Caius.

Earl of Gloucester Another

loyal follower of Lear, father to

Edgar and Edmond.

Edmond The illegitimate son

of Gloucester.

Edgar The eldest son and

legitimate heir of Gloucester,

later disinherited. Adopts a

succession of disguises,

including that of the mad

beggar, Tom o’ Bedlam.

Oswald Goneril’s servant.

Act 1 Act 2

2.1

2.2

1.1

1.4

2.2

Edmond stages a fight

between himself and

Edgar. He tells

Gloucester that Edgar

was plotting Gloucester’s

murder and has now fled.

Lear shares power

between Goneril and

Regan. He disowns

Cordelia and banishes

the Earl of Kent.

Lear and Goneril

quarrel, and Lear

departs for

Regan’s house.

Lear discovers

Kent’s shameful

treatment and rages

at both his

daughters.

Kent attacks

Oswald and is put in

the stocks. Edgar

determines to disguise

himself as the mad

beggar, Poor Tom.