William Shakespeare’ s King Lear: an overview by Brian Yablon

In the beginning: sources King Leir, 1590 Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland 1587 Geoffrey of Monmouth Higgins’ A Mirror for Magistrates 1587 Edmund Spenser’sThe Faerie Queene 1589 Sir Philip Sidney’s Arcadia 1590

When was it written? Written between 1603 and Published in Quarto 1 (bad quarto) Quarto 2 (False Folio) First Folio –Over 300 lines omitted from Q1; over 100 lines added

Performances? For King James 1, December 26, Now well liked. Altered to happy ending in 1681 by Nahum Tate. Suppresse when King George III was insane. Returned to Shakespeare’s original in 1845.

Act 1, Scene 1 Earl of Gloucester introduces Edmund (illegitimate son) to Earl of Kent, mentions legitimate son (Edgar). King Lear’s heirs: –Goneril (with Duke of Albany) –Regan (with Duke of Cornwall) –Cordelia (Duke of Burgundy/King of France) Goneril & Regan get kingdom Cordelia gets France, but is disinherited. Kent banished upon arguing with Lear.

Act 1, Scene 2 Edmund (illegitimate) decides to steal Edgar’s (legitimate) inheritance. Fools father (Gloucester) using a fake letter. Fools Edgar as well.

Act 1, Scene 3 Goneril -- bad daughter -- decides to humble her father, orders Oswald to treat him badly.

Act 1, Scene 4 Lear arrives at Goneril’s. Oswald is mean, disguised Kent beats him. Lear’s fool mocks his surrender of power. Goneril scolds Lear, demands halfing his men. Lear decides to visit other daughter. Albany protests Goneril’s behavior, is silenced. Goneril sends Oswald with letter to Regan.

Act 1, Scene 5 Lear sends Kent with letter to Regan. Fool again taunts his master, Lear.

Act 2, Scene 1 Edmund tricks Edgar into appearing -- in front of Gloucester -- to fight. Gloucester vows to legitimize Edmund and capture/kill Edgar. Regan (and Cornwall) arrive, like Edmund, take him into their service.

Act 2, Scene 2 Outside Gloucester’s castle, Kent beats Oswald. Cornwall, Regan, Gloucester appear. Cornwall punishes Kent; Gloucester protests. Kent ponders a letter from Cordelia, who knows of her father’s situation.

Act 2, Scene 3 Edgar escapes capture, learns that he is to be killed. Disguises himself as Tom O’Bedlam.

Act 2, Scene 4 Lear arrives at Gloucester’s castle (seeking Regan), sees Kent in stocks. Regan and Cornwall free Kent. Regan defends Goneril’s actions; Goneril arrives; they both demand he give up his retainers. Lear rages into a storm followed by his Fool and Gloucester.

Act 3, Scene 1 Kent discovers that Lear is madly in the storm. Kent asks the gentleman to inform Cordelia, who as arrived at Dover with a French army.

Act 3, Scene 2 Lear raves. Kent arrives, takes him to nearby shelter. Fool predicts bad things to happen.

Act 3, Scene 3 Gloucester tells his son, Edmund, that Cornwall forbids him to help Lear. But…he also tells him that Lear will soon be helped via Cordelia. Edmund (very bad) decides to gain his inheritance sooner by informing on his father, which will lead to his death.

Act 3, Scene 4 Lear, Kent, and the Fool approach the shelter (hovel). Fool goes in, comes out afraid of Tom O’Bedlam (Edgar). Lear and Edgar commiserate. Gloucester appears, offers shelter, warns Kent that Regan and Goneril want to kill Lear.

Act 3, Scene 5 Edmund reveals to Cornwall his father, Gloucester’s, dealing with French army. Cornwall orders him to be arrested.

Act 3, Scene 6 Gloucester leaves them. Lear acts out an imaginary trial of his daughters. Gloucester returns with warning; Kent and Fool taking sleeping Lear away. Edgar stays behind.

Act 3, Scene 7 Gloucester, arrested, is sent to Regan/Cornwall. Cornwalls blinds Gloucester. A loyal servant attacks Cornwall. The servant is killed. Other servants take Gloucester to wandering madman (Edgar) to escape.

Act 4, Scene 1 Gloucester is led to Edgar. Edgar continues as Tom O’Bedlam, agrees to lead Gloucester to the cliffs of Dover.

Act 4, Scene 2 Oswald meets Goneril and Edmund. Albany likes Cordelia’s invasion, dislikes Gloucester’s situation. Goneril sends Edmund to Cornwall to gather an army; hints of plot against Albany. Messenger arrives, tells of Cornwall’s death, Gloucester’s blinding. Aside, Goneril is jealous of Regan about Edmund. Aside, Albany vows revenge for Gloucester.

Act 4, Scene 3 In Dover, the gentleman tells Kent about Cordelia’s reaction about Lear’s situation. Kent says that Lear is nearby but ashamed to see his daughter, Cordelia.

Act 4, Scene 4 Cordelia orders a search party for Lear. Albany and Cornwall’s armies approach.

Act 4, Scene 5 Oswald tells Regan that Goneril convinced Albany to fight Cordelia. Letter from Goneril to Edmund makes Regan jealous. Regan gives Oswald her own token, tells him to kill Gloucester for reward.

Act 4, Scene 6 Edgar convinces Gloucester that he has jumped and survived the cliffs at Dover. Gloucester accepts his affliction. Lear appears, raving. Search party takes Lear to Cordelia. Oswald appears, attacks Gloucester, is killed by Edgar. While dieing, gives letters to Edgar. Letters (from Goneril for Edmund) propose Albany’s death and their marriage.

Act 4, Scene 7 Cordelia greets Lear. Lear mistakes her for a spirit. Kent and the gentleman talk about upcoming battle.

Act 5, Scene 1 Regan corners Edmund about Goneril. Edgar appears, in disguise, gives Albany letters; proposes a challenger after the battle to prove/disprove letters. Edmund needs Albany’s military leadership but hopes he dies after battle. Albany has proposed mercy, Edmund will not allow it.

Act 5, Scene 2 Edgar goes to fight in battle. Fleeing soldiers, and Edgar, pass by Gloucester, informing him of Cordelia and Lear’s defeat and capture. Gloucester and Edgar flee.

Act 5, Scene 3 Edmund sends Cordelia and Lear to prison (with orders to have them killed in an apparent murder-suicide). Albany, Regan, Goneril arrive. Albany arrests Edmund and Goneril for treason. Regan gets sick, leaves.

Continued Edgar appears in full armor, fights Edmund, who is wounded. Albany shows letter, Goneril leaves Dying Edmund confesses. Edgar reveals himself, tells of his revelation to Gloucester, which shocked and killed him.

And then… A report arrives that Goneril poisoned Regan and killed herself. Soldier is sent to stop Lear and Cordelia’s deaths. Lear carries in Cordelia’s body, mad again. Edmund dies.

Finally Albany will return kingdom to Lear. Lear “sees” Cordelia breathing, then dies. Albany orders funerals, Kent and Edgar to assist in ruling kingdom. Kent predicts his own death.

Some things to ponder Nature and order Politics Justice Madness Betrayal Blindness Prose vs. Verse