King Lear Act II Summary

Act II.1 Character list Edmund, the Bastard Curan (a servant) Edgar Gloucester Cornwall Regan Attendants (no lines)

Scene 1 Details Curan informs Edmund that Cornwall and Regan are on their way to stay with Gloucester and warns of a potential conflict between Cornwall and Albany. Edmund likes the idea of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall coming and says he will work them into his revenge plot on Edgar. Edgar enters and Edmund tells Edgar he is rumored to have slandered Cornwall. Despite Edgar’s protestations of innocence, Edmund convinces him to flee and stages a fight to imply Edgar is a villain, going so far as to injure himself and blame it on Edgar.

Scene 1 continued… Gloucester enters, and Edmund convinces him that Edgar tried to plot with him to murder their father, but when Edmund “protested” the plan, Edgar attacked him. Gloucester says Cornwall will support his command that Edgar be found and brought to Gloucester and those that hide Edgar be put to death. Edmund claims Edgar called him “unpossessing bastard” and that no one would trust Edmund, yet Edmund professed his loyalty to their father even so.

Scene 1 continued… Cornwall and Regan enter, say they’ve heard strange news; Gloucester confirms Edgar’s “betrayal.” Regan asks if Edgar was a companion of the “riotous knights” in Lear’s retinue; Edmund confirms it. Regan mentions Goneril’s letter and how she will not tolerate the knights either, claims they must have put Edgar up to patricide. Cornwall rewards Edmund’s trustworthiness and loyalty by making him Cornwall’s man. Regan informs Gloucester that they have come for his advice in dealing with Lear’s behavior.

Act II.2 Character list Oswald Kent Cornwall Regan Gloucester Edmund

Scene 2 Details Oswald and Kent arrive at Gloucester’s at the same time to deliver news from their masters. Oswald doesn’t recognize Kent, but Kent recognizes Oswald and begins to abuse him. Kent wants to fight him and draws his sword. He beats Oswald and Oswald calls “murder.” His calls bring Gloucester, Cornwall, Edmund, and Regan. Kent wants to fight everyone. Gloucester doesn’t understand what’s happening. Cornwall tells everyone to calm down and asks Kent why he’s so angry.

Scene 2 Continued… Kent and Oswald bicker and verbally attack each other with Kent saying he is loyal to Lear and Oswald saying he has done nothing wrong. Cornwall commands Kent put in stocks; Regan says he should be there all night. Gloucester tries to intervene, saying Lear will take care of it and will be offended his servant was treated thusly. Regan replies that her sister will be angry her servant has been abused. Cornwall says he will deal with Lear.

Scene 2 Continued… Everyone leaves except for Gloucester and Kent, who is in stocks. Gloucester apologizes for Cornwall’s punishment and says he will talk to Cornwall. Kent says not to bother, that he’ll stay there throughout the night. Gloucester worries that Lear will be upset; Kent hands him a letter from Cordelia, suggesting she’s heard of Lear’s mistreatment and coming to deal with it.

Act II.3 Character List Edgar

Scene 3 Edgar soliloquizes his plan to disguise himself as a mad beggar – “Poor Tom”

Act II.4 Character list Lear The Fool Gentleman Kent (as Caius) Gloucester Cornwall Regan Goneril Oswald

Scene 4 Lear arrives at Gloucester’s home and is angry to find Kent in the stocks and that Regan and Cornwall won’t see him. Gloucester reminds Lear that Cornwall is foul- tempered. Lear commands Gloucester to get Regan and Cornwall to see him or he will rage. Regan and Cornwall enter and Lear starts to complain about his mistreatment by Goneril. Regan defends Goneril and blames Lear’s men, saying Lear is old and acting foolishly. He should go apologize to Goneril and go back to her.

Scene 4 continued… Lear rejects Regan’s idea and asks sarcastically if he should beg Goneril for food and shelter? Regan insists he go back to Goneril. Lear says it will never happen and curses Goneril. Regan says “so will you wish on me / when the rash mood hits,” blaming his anger on a bad mood. Lear denies this, saying it’s not in Regan’s nature to be so cruel and that she knows her place.

Scene 4 continued… Regan asks what the problem is, but before Lear can fully explain his anger about Kent being in stocks, Goneril arrives. Lear is shocked to see Goneril and even more shocked when Regan takes her by the hand, showing that they are in cahoots. Goneril feigns ignorance about why Lear is mad and blames it on his age, his “dotage.”

Scene 4 continued… Cornwall admits to putting Kent in the stocks, and when Lear expresses his astonishment, Regan tells Lear to go back and finish the month with Goneril, releasing half his entourage, as she is not ready to entertain Lear and his entourage. Lear angrily rejects this idea, saying he’d rather be a slave of France than do what Goneril requests. Goneril says, “at your choice,” to which Lear responds by cursing her and saying he will stay with Regan with all 100 of his men.

Scene 4 continued… Regan says Goneril knows what she’s talking about – commenting on Lear’s age, why he needs so many men. Goneril says he doesn’t even need 50 men and that all his men should be released and he should use their servants. Lear decries their behavior, saying he gave them all (to which Regan says, “in good time”) and that all he wanted was the live out his days with his men. Regan says she’ll allow 25 men, and Lear decides to go back to Goneril and her offer of 50 men. Goneril changes her mind and says he doesn’t need any men at all.

Scene 4 continued… Lear is incensed, compares himself to a beggar in losing his livelihood. He rages about his grief and not wanting to cry yet his heart “shall break into a hundred thousand flaws. O, Fool, I shall go mad.” Lear, Kent, Gloucester, Fool, and knights exit. Regan and Cornwall note it will storm and that Gloucester’s house is too little for them, Goneril, Lear, and his men. Goneril says it’s his own fault, but Regan says she’ll take him but not any followers.

Scene 4 continued… so long… Gloucester returns and informs everyone that Lear is in a “high rage.” Goneril tells Gloucester not to make him stay, but Gloucester is concerned about letting him leave into the coming storm. Regan tells Gloucester to let him leave, lock him out, and leave his men to take care of him. END