King Lear

Content

• Origin
• Characters
• Plot

-Act I

-Act II

-Act III

-Act IV

-Act V

• Themes

Origin

Shakespeare's rather infamous tragedy "King Lear" has presumably been written between 1603 and 1606. It bases on a legend dealing with the acutal King Lear, who was said to have reigned in Britain 800 years BC and his three daughters. The legend was famous in Elizabethan times. After the play didn't draw as many spectators as other Shakespeare tragedys he editet it and gave it a happy ending, which increased it's popularity.

Characters

• King Lear
• Goneril (King's daughter)
• Regan (King's daughter)
• Cordelia (King's daughter)
• Earl Gloucester
• Edmund (Earl's illegitimate son)
• Edgar (Earl's son)
• Cornwall (Regan's husband)
• Albany (Goneril's husband)
• Kent
• Fool (Earl's jester)
• Oswald

Plot - Act I

The old King Lear wants to divide his kingdom into three pieces, each for one of his daughters. The daughter who performs the act that show the most love is promised to receive the greatest part of his territory. Goneril and Regan, his two oldest children declare to love him more than the other sisters, hoping to win his trust and to gain the biggest part. The youngest daughter, Cordelia, refuses to make great promises to her beloved father, convinced that her true love will win over her sisters false words. Lear doesn't recognise Cordelias plan, which results in him getting outraged about her behaviour and denies to give her a part. The kingdom gets split up in two shares, for Goneril and Regan.

The King of France, who is currently visiting King Lear, realizes that Cordelia is the only honest daughter, and takes her home to France with him, planning to make her his queen.

Gloucesters illegitimate son Edmund is fed up with the way society treats bastards like him. He plans a scheme against his brother legitimate brother Edgar, and therefore convinces their father that he was planned to be killed by Edgar. His father believes him,

King Lear, spending time at Gonerils castle, and his men find out that Gonerils servants don't obey his commands. Lear questions that, which leads to Goneril opening up to him about sending his servants away, because they misbehaved. Lear is outraged about his daughters transformation that he angrily leaves her castle, fleeing to Regan. He believes that she at least is a loyal and loving daughter.

Plot - Act II

In Gloucesters castle, Edmund continues his scheme against his brother, fake fighting him and hurting hisself on purpose. He later explains to his father that Edgar hurt him because Edmund did not want to join him in a plot against their father. Once again, Gloucester believes his illegitimate son, and even their visitors Regan and her husband Cornwell are convinced of Edgars fault.

Kent, one of Lears servants, gets in a conflict with Cornwall, Regan and Gloucester. They decide to put him in the stocks as a form of punishment. Edgar, hunted by Gloucesters men, arrives in the stocks, and hides there, disguised as a beggar. Lear is not amused by the way Regan and Cornwall treated Kent, since he is one of his servants. They avoid talking about it to him, and Lear is fine with that. He talks to Regan about Gonerils behaviour towards him, begging for shelter at Regans. She refuses to help her father and tries to convince him that he is wrong.

When Goneril arrives at Regans castle, she bonds with her sister against her father, They prohibit him having servants anymore. Lear leaves, facing a heavy storm outside. Even though Gloucester begs the Kings daughters to let him back in, they lock the doors and shut their father out.

Plot - Act III

Kent, searching for King Lear, meets one of Lears knights, who reveals to him that Lear is somewhere in the area, with his only company being the fool. Kent therefore tells the knight about friends in Dover, who can help Lear. He gives him a ring to deliver to Cordelia. He ensures him that she knows who sent the knight when she receives it.

Meanwhile, Lear and the Fool wander around the woods, challenged by the poor weather conditions. The Fool tries to persuade his leader to seek shelter somewhere, but King Lear remains stubborn. They encounter Kent, who finally manages to make the King want to seek shelter in a nearby hovel.

In his castle, Gloucester opens up to Edmund about his feelings about King Lears daughters and their malicious behaviour against their father. They even prohibited him from talking about Lear. He informs him about a French army invading England. Gloucester decides to assist King Lear, and to seek him. Edmund is told to not say a word about Gloucesters absence, since that could bring him in trouble. After Gloucester leaves, Edmund takes the opportunity to betray his father, speaking up to Cornwall about Gloucesters decision to help Lear.

After arriving at the hovel, Lear refuses to go in, ensuring that his emotions are stronger than the cold storm. He sends his Fool inside the shelter, who quickly returns, saying that there is a spirit inside. The spirit is Edgar, still in disguise. He acts mad, and Lear in his dejected circumstances sympathises with him.

Gloucester gets to the hovel, convincing Lear to join him back to the castle. Lear agrees, under the condition that he may bring his new companion the beggar, who actually is Edgar