SUMMARY OF KING LEAR

The play is set in Celtic, pre-Christian Britian. The play isn’t historical; the “love test” that begins the play gives the play a fairy tale quality; the brutality provides an Elizabethan context.

After Lear divides his power according to the love test, the disinherited, loving, but too-honest Cordelia leaves the country to become Queen of France. The other two daughters, who though they hate their father get the power through flattery, decide to put old King Lear in his place, i.e. humiliate him. Angry Lear then heads for the woods (one face of nature) with his few faithful followers, including Kent and the Fool.

Another plot reinforces this action. The Earl of Gloucester allows himself to be tricked, by his evil bastard Edmund, into believing that his good son---Edgar--- wants to kill Gloucester and become the new Earl. Edgar, to escape his father, also heads for the woods/heath/Nature, where he joins Lear and eventually his own blinded father, who has discovered Edmund’s savagery.

Society then becomes dominated by those who believe “might makes right” (rather than law, which favors weak Lear and disinherited Edgar). Though Gloucester (a good man who is tricked) and the returned Cordelia attempt to restore law and order, they fail; and a blood bath occurs. Lear’s entire family is killed, as well as many of the other major characters. Edgar, toughened by his experience, kills Edmund in the final scene, and then picks up the pieces of the kingdom:

Characters:

King and followers: Lear (killed), his Fool-Jester (disappears, presumably dies), Earl of Kent (prepares to die as play ends)

Daughters and husbands:

Goneril (killed) and Duke of Albany

Regan and Duke of Cornwall (both killed)

Cordelia (killed) and King of France (very minor character)

Earl of Gloucester (dies) and sons Edgar and Edmund (killed)

Oswald (killed): Goneril’s royal servant. Vivid character who embodies self-interest/ “looking out for number one.”