King Lear: Difference between revisions

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Kent leads Lear and fool to shelter; Lear doesn't want to go into shelter, and stays outside praying and reflecting on how he treated wretched/homeless poorly; fool runs out of shelter because of spirit inside; it is Edgar as poor Tom; Lear goes inside, talks with Edgar, sympathizes with him; Gloucester finds them, tries to bring Lear back to the caastle; Kent and Gloucester convince Lear to go into castle, but he insists on taking Edgar
Kent leads Lear and fool to shelter; Lear doesn't want to go into shelter, and stays outside praying and reflecting on how he treated wretched/homeless poorly; fool runs out of shelter because of spirit inside; it is Edgar as poor Tom; Lear goes inside, talks with Edgar, sympathizes with him; Gloucester finds them, tries to bring Lear back to the caastle; Kent and Gloucester convince Lear to go into castle, but he insists on taking Edgar
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===Act 3 Scene 5===
===Act 3 Scene 5===


Inside Gloucester’s castle, Cornwall vows revenge against Gloucester, whom Edmund has betrayed by showing Cornwall a letter that proves Gloucester’s secret support of a French invasion. Edmund pretends to be horrified at the discovery of his father’s “treason,” but he is actually delighted, since the powerful Cornwall, now his ally, confers upon him the title of earl of Gloucester (3.5.10). Cornwall sends Edmund to find Gloucester, and Edmund reasons to himself that if he can catch his father in the act of helping Lear, Cornwall’s suspicions will be confirmed.
Edmund shows Cornwall the letter; Edmund sent to find Gloucester


===Act 3 Scene 6===
===Act 3 Scene 6===


Gloucester, Kent, Lear, and the Fool take shelter in a small building (perhaps a shed or farmhouse) on Gloucester’s property. Gloucester leaves to find provisions for the king. Lear, whose mind is wandering ever more widely, holds a mock trial of his wicked daughters, with Edgar, Kent, and the Fool presiding. Both Edgar and the Fool speak like madmen, and the trial is an exercise in hallucination and eccentricity.
Gloucester, Kent, Lear, and the fool take shelter in small building; Gloucester leaves to find provisions; Lear holds mock trial of his daughters; Gloucester returns, tells Kent he overheard plot to kill Lear; Kent and the fool leave to take Lear to Dover
 
Gloucester hurries back in to tell Kent that he has overheard a plot to kill Lear. Gloucester begs Kent to quickly transport Lear toward Dover, in the south of England, where allies will be waiting for him. Gloucester, Kent, and the Fool leave. Edgar remains behind for a moment and speaks in his own, undisguised voice about how much less important his own suffering feels now that he has seen Lear’s far worse suffering.


===Act 3 Scene 7===
===Act 3 Scene 7===


Back in Gloucester’s castle, Cornwall gives Goneril the treasonous letter concerning the French army at Dover and tells her to take it and show it to her husband, Albany. He then sends his servants to apprehend Gloucester so that Gloucester can be punished. He orders Edmund to go with Goneril to Albany’s palace so that Edmund will not have to witness the violent punishment of his father.
Cornwall gives Goneril the treasonous letter, Albany sends his servants to arrest Gloucester; Edmund goes with Goneril to Albany's palace; Oswald tells Cornwall that Gloucester helped Lear escape to Dover; Gloucester brought before Regan and Cornwall; they tie him up; Cornwall tears out Gloucester's eye; Glocuester's servant comes in, fights Cornwall, is killed by Regan; Cornwall gouges out Gloucester's remaining eye; he calls out to Edmund, Regan tells him Edmund betrayed him to Cornwall; Gloucester realizes Edgar is the son who truly loves him; Cornwall and Regan leave to treat Cornwall's wound; Cornwall's and Regan's servants are shocked/horrified at what happened, treat Gloucester's wounds, hand him over to Edgar (poor Tom)
 
Oswald brings word that Gloucester has helped Lear escape to Dover. Gloucester is found and brought before Regan and Cornwall. They treat him cruelly, tying him up like a thief, insulting him, and pulling his white beard. Cornwall remarks to himself that he cannot put Gloucester to death without holding a formal trial but that he can still punish him brutally and get away with it.
 
Admitting that he helped Lear escape, Gloucester swears that he will see Lear’s wrongs avenged. Cornwall replies, “See ’t shalt thou never,” and proceeds to dig out one of Gloucester’s eyes, throw it on the floor, and step on it (3.7.68). Gloucester screams, and Regan demands that Cornwall put out the other eye too.
 
One of Gloucester’s servants suddenly steps in, saying that he cannot stand by and let this outrage happen. Cornwall draws his sword and the two fight. The servant wounds Cornwall, but Regan grabs a sword from another servant and kills the first servant before he can injure Cornwall further. Irate, the wounded Cornwall gouges out Gloucester’s remaining eye.
 
Gloucester calls out for his son Edmund to help him, but Regan triumphantly tells him that it was Edmund who betrayed him to Cornwall in the first place. Gloucester, realizing immediately that Edgar was the son who really loved him, laments his folly and prays to the gods to help Edgar. Regan and Cornwall order that Gloucester be thrown out of the house to “smell / His way to Dover” (3.7.96–97). Cornwall, realizing that his wound is bleeding heavily, exits with Regan’s aid.
 
Left alone with Gloucester, Cornwall’s and Regan’s servants express their shock and horror at what has just happened. They decide to treat Gloucester’s bleeding face and hand him over to the mad beggar to lead Gloucester where he will.


==Act 4==
==Act 4==
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===Act 4 Scene 1===
===Act 4 Scene 1===


Edgar talks to himself on the heath, reflecting that his situation is not as bad as it could be. He is immediately presented with the horrifying sight of his blinded father. Gloucester is led by an old man who has been a tenant of both Gloucester and Gloucester’s father for eighty years. Edgar hears Gloucester tell the old man that if he could only touch his son Edgar again, it would be worth more to him than his lost eyesight. But Edgar chooses to remain disguised as Poor Tom rather than reveal himself to his father. Gloucester asks the old man to bring some clothing to cover Tom, and he asks Tom to lead him to Dover. Edgar agrees. Specifically, Gloucester asks to be led to the top of the highest cliff.
Edgar sees blind Gloucester; Edgar decides to remain disguised as poor Tom; he asks Tom to lead him to Dover, to the top of the highest cliff


===Act 4 Scene 2===
===Act 4 Scene 2===


Goneril and Edmund arrive outside of her palace, and Goneril expresses surprise that Albany did not meet them on the way. Oswald tells her that Albany is displeased with Goneril’s and Regan’s actions, glad to hear that the French army had landed, and sorry to hear that Goneril is returning home.
Goneril, Edmund arrive outside Albany's castle, Oswald reveals that Albany displeased with Goneril's and Regan's actions, happy about French army, unhappy that Goneril is returning; Goneril calls Albany a coward; Edmund put in charge of Albany's troops, tells him to return to Cornwall's house and raise Cornwall's troops to fight French; when Edmund leaves she suggests she wants to marry him; Albany arrives and argues with Goneril; messenger informs them Cornwall died of his wounds; Albany horrified at Gloucester's blinding; Albany learns Edmund betrayed Gloucester, resolves to take his revenge on Edmund
 
Goneril realizes that Albany is no longer her ally and criticizes his cowardice, resolving to assert greater control over her husband’s military forces. She directs Edmund to return to Cornwall’s house and raise Cornwall’s troops for the fight against the French. She informs him that she will likewise take over power from her husband. She promises to send Oswald with messages. She bids Edmund goodbye with a kiss, strongly hinting that she wants to become his mistress.
 
As Edmund leaves, Albany enters. He harshly criticizes Goneril. He has not yet learned about Gloucester’s blinding, but he is outraged at the news that Lear has been driven mad by Goneril and Regan’s abuse. Goneril angrily insults Albany, accusing him of being a coward. She tells him that he ought to be preparing to fight against the French invaders. Albany retorts by calling her monstrous and condemns the evil that she has done to Lear.
 
A messenger arrives and delivers the news that Cornwall has died from the wound that he received while putting out Gloucester’s eyes. Albany reacts with horror to the report of Gloucester’s blinding and interprets Cornwall’s death as divine retribution. Meanwhile, Goneril displays mixed feelings about Cornwall’s death: on the one hand, it makes her sister Regan less powerful; on the other hand, it leaves Regan free to pursue Edmund herself. Goneril leaves to answer her sister’s letters.
 
Albany demands to know where Edmund was when his father was being blinded. When he hears that it was Edmund who betrayed Gloucester and that Edmund left the house specifically so that Cornwall could punish Gloucester, Albany resolves to take revenge upon Edmund and help Gloucester.


===Act 4 Scene 3===
===Act 4 Scene 3===


Kent, still disguised as an ordinary serving man, speaks with a gentleman in the French camp near Dover. The gentleman tells Kent that the king of France landed with his troops but quickly departed to deal with a problem at home. Kent’s letters have been brought to Cordelia, who is now the queen of France and who has been left in charge of the army. Kent questions the gentleman about Cordelia’s reaction to the letters, and the gentleman gives a moving account of Cordelia’s sorrow upon reading about her father’s mistreatment.
Kent talks to someone in French camp who describes Cordelia's reaction to Kent's letter about Lear; Lear arrived in Dover but refuses to see Cordelia out of shame; Albany and Cornwall's armies marching to Dover
 
Kent tells the gentleman that Lear, who now wavers unpredictably between sanity and madness, has also arrived safely in Dover. Lear, however, refuses to see Cordelia because he is ashamed of the way he treated her. The gentleman informs Kent that the armies of both Albany and the late Cornwall are on the march, presumably to fight against the French troops.


===Act 4 Scene 4===
===Act 4 Scene 4===


Cordelia enters, leading her soldiers. Lear has hidden from her in the cornfields, draping himself in weeds and flowers and singing madly to himself. Cordelia sends one hundred of her soldiers to find Lear and bring him back. She consults with a doctor about Lear’s chances for recovering his sanity. The doctor tells her that what Lear most needs is sleep and that there are medicines that can make him sleep. A messenger brings Cordelia the news that the British armies of Cornwall and Albany are marching toward them. Cordelia expected this news, and her army stands ready to fight.
Cordelia, in charge of French troops, orders 100 to find Lear; Lear is hidden in cornfields, singing to himself; doctor says Lear needs sleep to recover; messenger comes with news of Albany and Cornwall's armies


===Act 4 Scene 5===
===Act 4 Scene 5===


Back at Gloucester’s castle, Oswald tells Regan that Albany’s army has set out, although Albany has been dragging his feet about the expedition. It seems that Goneril is a “better soldier” than Albany (4.5.4). Regan is extremely curious about the letter that Oswald carries from Goneril to Edmund, but Oswald refuses to show it to her. Regan guesses that the letter concerns Goneril’s love affair with Edmund, and she tells Oswald plainly that she wants Edmund for herself. Regan reveals that she has already spoken with Edmund about this possibility; it would be more appropriate for Edmund to get involved with her, now a widow, than with Goneril, with whom such involvement would constitute adultery. She gives Oswald a token or a letter (the text doesn’t specify which) to deliver to Edmund, whenever he may find him. Finally, she promises Oswald a reward if he can find and kill Gloucester.
At Gloucester's castle, Oswald informs Regan that Albany's army marching to Dover; she reveals that she wants to marry/"be involved with" Edmund; gives Oswald a token/letter to deliver to Edmund; promises a reward for Oswald if he finds/kills Gloucester


===Act 4 Scene 6===
===Act 4 Scene 6===


Still disguised, Edgar leads Gloucester toward Dover. Edgar pretends to take Gloucester to the cliff, telling him that they are going up steep ground and that they can hear the sea. Finally, he tells Gloucester that they are at the top of the cliff and that looking down from the great height gives him vertigo. He waits quietly nearby as Gloucester prays to the gods to forgive him. Gloucester can no longer bear his suffering and intends to commit suicide. He falls to the ground, fainting.
Edgar leads Gloucester to Dover; they go up a hill, Edgar waits nearby while Gloucester prays to the gods, intending to commit suicide; he falls, Edmund wakes him up; he pretends to be an ordinary gentlemen (still doesn't reveal he is Edgar), tells Gloucester he saw Gloucester fall from the cliffs, that he was with a devil at the top of the cliff, that the gods have preserved him; Lear meets Edgar and Gloucester on the plain; recognizes Gloucester, babbles to them; Cordelia's soldiers find Lear, Lear runs away; Oswald meets Edgar and Gloucester on the plain; Edgar pretends to be another person (peasant), defends Gloucester, kills Oswald; Edgar reads Oswald's letters, finds one from Goneril to Edmund encouraging him to kill Albany so Goneril and Edmund can be together; decides to show it to Albany
 
Edgar wakes Gloucester up. He no longer pretends to be Poor Tom but now acts like an ordinary gentleman, although he still doesn’t tell Gloucester that he is his son. Edgar says that he saw him fall all the way from the cliffs of Dover and that it is a miracle that he is still alive. Clearly, Edgar states, the gods do not want Gloucester to die just yet. Edgar also informs Gloucester that he saw the creature who had been with him at the top of the cliff and that this creature was not a human being but a devil. Gloucester accepts Edgar’s explanation that the gods have preserved him and resolves to endure his sufferings patiently.
 
Lear, wandering across the plain, stumbles upon Edgar and Gloucester. Crowned with wild flowers, he is clearly mad. He babbles to Edgar and Gloucester, speaking both irrationally and with a strange perceptiveness. He recognizes Gloucester, alluding to Gloucester’s sin and source of shame—his adultery. Lear pardons Gloucester for this crime, but his thoughts then follow a chain of associations from adultery to copulation to womankind, culminating in a tirade against women and sexuality in general. Lear’s disgust carries him to the point of incoherence, as he deserts iambic pentameter (the verse form in which his speeches are written) and spits out the words “Fie, fie, fie! pah! pah!” (4.6.126).
 
Cordelia’s people enter seeking King Lear. Relieved to find him at last, they try to take him into custody to bring him to Cordelia. When Lear runs away, Cordelia’s men follow him.
 
Oswald comes across Edgar and Gloucester on the plain. He does not recognize Edgar, but he plans to kill Gloucester and collect the reward from Regan. Edgar adopts yet another persona, imitating the dialect of a peasant from the west of England. He defends Gloucester and kills Oswald with a cudgel. As he dies, Oswald entrusts Edgar with his letters.
 
Gloucester is disappointed not to have been killed. Edgar reads with interest the letter that Oswald carries to Edmund. In the letter, Goneril urges Edmund to kill Albany if he gets the opportunity, so that Edmund and Goneril can be together. Edgar is outraged; he decides to keep the letter and show it to Albany when the time is right. Meanwhile, he buries Oswald nearby and leads Gloucester off to temporary safety.


===Act 4 Scene 7===
===Act 4 Scene 7===


In the French camp, Cordelia speaks with Kent. She knows his real identity, but he wishes it to remain a secret to everyone else. Lear, who has been sleeping, is brought in to Cordelia. He only partially recognizes her. He says that he knows now that he is senile and not in his right mind, and he assumes that Cordelia hates him and wants to kill him, just as her sisters do. Cordelia tells him that she forgives him for banishing her.
Cordelia and Kent speak, Lear is brought in; Cordelia forgives him


Meanwhile, the news of Cornwall’s death is repeated in the camp, and we learn that Edmund is now leading Cornwall’s troops. The battle between France and England rapidly approaches.
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==Act 5==
==Act 5==

Latest revision as of 23:07, 14 April 2011

Summary

Act 1

Act 1 Scene 1

Discussion between Gloucester and Kent about King Lear's division of kingdom; introduction of Edmund (Gloucester's bastard); Lear's test of love to daughters; Goneril and Reagan please Lear; Cordelia cannot heave her heart into her mouth, is disowned by Lear; the king of France and Burgundy, both there for Cordelia's hand in marriage, are told she has no land; Burgundy leaves, France is impressed, and Cordelia leaves for France; Goneril and Regan scheme, knowing they have all authority over the kingdom

Act 1 Scene 2

Edmund dissatisfied with treatment of bastards; expresses resentment of Edgar; starts to discredit Edgar; first forges letter from Edgar plotting to kill Gloucester to obtain his inheritance; he tells Edgar that Gloucester is angry with him and that he should carry a sword

Act 1 Scene 3

Lear spends time at Goneril's castle; Goneril complains about Lear and his obnoxious group; she tells her servants to behave rudely toward him

Act 1 Scene 4

Kent (loyal to Lear but banished by him) appears as peasant Caius; they beat up on Oswald for being rude; fool tells Lear that giving away his power was a mistake; Goneril speaks with Lear, tells him he and his group are obnoxious and he has to send away some of his group of 100; Lear is angry, curses her, leaves Goneril to stay with Regan; Goneril argues with Albany

Act 1 Scene 5

Fool makes fun of Lear about his bad decision and guesses that Regan will also treat Lear badly; they leave for Regan's castle

Act 2

Act 2 Scene 1

Edmund learns Regan and husband (duke of Cornwall) coming to Gloucester's castle that night; also learns of dispute between duke of Cornwall (Regan's husband) and duke of Albany (Goneril's husband); tells Edgar duke of Cornwall is angry for Edgar siding with Albany; encourages Edgar to flee since Gloucester found his hiding place; they feign a fight for Gloucester, Edgar runs away; Cornwall and Regan arrive, Regan learns about Edgar, suspects that Lear's group of servants put him up to killing Gloucester

Act 2 Scene 2

Kent meets Oswald outside Gloucester's castle, makes fun of him and attacks him; Cornwall, Regan, Gloucester respond; Cornwall puts Kent in stock, Gloucester objects b/c he is Lear's servant; Cornwall and Regan maintain Kent must be punished; Kent reads letter from Cordelia, falls asleep

Act 2 Scene 3

Edgar enters, turns himself into poor Tom, beggar

Act 2 Scene 4

Lear arrives at Gloucester's castle, sees Kent in stocks, Regan refuses to meet with them, Regan later meets with him and tells him he is being unreasonable and should return to Goneril; Lear curses Goneril; Goneril shows up at castle, they insist he give up half his men, then a quarter, then none; Lear curses them and leaves; Gloucester asks them to shelter Lear, but they refuse and lock doors

Act 3

Act 3 Scene 1

Raging storm; Kent learns Lear and his fool are somewhere in the area; tells knight to go to Dover and find friends to help Lear's cause, find Cordelia; he then searches for Lear

Act 3 Scene 2

Lear wanders in storm, curses weather; fool tells him to humble himself to his daughters and seek shelter; Lear refuses; Kent finds them, leads them to shelter

Act 3 Scene 3

Gloucester tells Edmund that he is uncomfortable w/ treatment of Lear, wants to look for him; received letter about French army landed in England, letter in room; tells Edmund to keep Cornwall distracted while he (Gloucester) looks for Lear; Edmund plans to immediately go to Cornwall, uncovering Gloucester as traitor and allowing him to obtain his father's title and land

Act 3 Scene 4

Kent leads Lear and fool to shelter; Lear doesn't want to go into shelter, and stays outside praying and reflecting on how he treated wretched/homeless poorly; fool runs out of shelter because of spirit inside; it is Edgar as poor Tom; Lear goes inside, talks with Edgar, sympathizes with him; Gloucester finds them, tries to bring Lear back to the caastle; Kent and Gloucester convince Lear to go into castle, but he insists on taking Edgar

Act 3 Scene 5

Edmund shows Cornwall the letter; Edmund sent to find Gloucester

Act 3 Scene 6

Gloucester, Kent, Lear, and the fool take shelter in small building; Gloucester leaves to find provisions; Lear holds mock trial of his daughters; Gloucester returns, tells Kent he overheard plot to kill Lear; Kent and the fool leave to take Lear to Dover

Act 3 Scene 7

Cornwall gives Goneril the treasonous letter, Albany sends his servants to arrest Gloucester; Edmund goes with Goneril to Albany's palace; Oswald tells Cornwall that Gloucester helped Lear escape to Dover; Gloucester brought before Regan and Cornwall; they tie him up; Cornwall tears out Gloucester's eye; Glocuester's servant comes in, fights Cornwall, is killed by Regan; Cornwall gouges out Gloucester's remaining eye; he calls out to Edmund, Regan tells him Edmund betrayed him to Cornwall; Gloucester realizes Edgar is the son who truly loves him; Cornwall and Regan leave to treat Cornwall's wound; Cornwall's and Regan's servants are shocked/horrified at what happened, treat Gloucester's wounds, hand him over to Edgar (poor Tom)

Act 4

Act 4 Scene 1

Edgar sees blind Gloucester; Edgar decides to remain disguised as poor Tom; he asks Tom to lead him to Dover, to the top of the highest cliff

Act 4 Scene 2

Goneril, Edmund arrive outside Albany's castle, Oswald reveals that Albany displeased with Goneril's and Regan's actions, happy about French army, unhappy that Goneril is returning; Goneril calls Albany a coward; Edmund put in charge of Albany's troops, tells him to return to Cornwall's house and raise Cornwall's troops to fight French; when Edmund leaves she suggests she wants to marry him; Albany arrives and argues with Goneril; messenger informs them Cornwall died of his wounds; Albany horrified at Gloucester's blinding; Albany learns Edmund betrayed Gloucester, resolves to take his revenge on Edmund

Act 4 Scene 3

Kent talks to someone in French camp who describes Cordelia's reaction to Kent's letter about Lear; Lear arrived in Dover but refuses to see Cordelia out of shame; Albany and Cornwall's armies marching to Dover

Act 4 Scene 4

Cordelia, in charge of French troops, orders 100 to find Lear; Lear is hidden in cornfields, singing to himself; doctor says Lear needs sleep to recover; messenger comes with news of Albany and Cornwall's armies

Act 4 Scene 5

At Gloucester's castle, Oswald informs Regan that Albany's army marching to Dover; she reveals that she wants to marry/"be involved with" Edmund; gives Oswald a token/letter to deliver to Edmund; promises a reward for Oswald if he finds/kills Gloucester

Act 4 Scene 6

Edgar leads Gloucester to Dover; they go up a hill, Edgar waits nearby while Gloucester prays to the gods, intending to commit suicide; he falls, Edmund wakes him up; he pretends to be an ordinary gentlemen (still doesn't reveal he is Edgar), tells Gloucester he saw Gloucester fall from the cliffs, that he was with a devil at the top of the cliff, that the gods have preserved him; Lear meets Edgar and Gloucester on the plain; recognizes Gloucester, babbles to them; Cordelia's soldiers find Lear, Lear runs away; Oswald meets Edgar and Gloucester on the plain; Edgar pretends to be another person (peasant), defends Gloucester, kills Oswald; Edgar reads Oswald's letters, finds one from Goneril to Edmund encouraging him to kill Albany so Goneril and Edmund can be together; decides to show it to Albany

Act 4 Scene 7

Cordelia and Kent speak, Lear is brought in; Cordelia forgives him

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