1. King Lear
Act Three

2. Act three Scene I: Key Points
As the storm rages out on the heath, Kent meets a gentleman who describes Lear’s madness.
Kent tells the gentleman that there is trouble brewing between Cornwall and Albany, and that Cordelia and French forces have landed at Dover.
He instructs the gentleman to deliver a message to Cordelia informing her of Lear’s situation.

3. Kent
DECISIVE ACTION:
We see Kent initiating the first positive steps to save Lear in this scene. He asks the gentleman the meets in the storm to go to Dover and tell Cordelia of the suffering her father is undergoing. Kent clearly hopes that she will increase the speed of the build-up of the French forces in England.

4. Lear
RAGE:
Through the gentleman’s report, we learn that Lear’s rage against his daughters has reached new heights.
He runs bare-headed in the rain calling on the forces of nature to destroy mankind.
The force and violence of the storm mirrors the king’s inner rage.

5. The Fool
DEVOTED:
We learn that the fool is doing is best to comfort Lear in his great pain.
Although the fool has been Lear’s harshest critic, we now see how much he loves and cares for the king.

6. Albany & Cornwall TROUBLE BREWING?:
Kent makes mention of potential conflict between Albany and Cornwall, which was alluded to in Act 1.
Although yet to show itself openly, “there is division”. This is the first sign of tension brewing between Lear’s enemies.

7. Act three Scene II: Key Points
Lear wanders through the heath in the storm, ranting and raving at the forces of nature.
Kent arrives and is shocked to see the king, now accompanied by his fool, in this condition.
He convinces Lear to take shelter from the storm in a hovel.

8. Lear
MADNESS:
The king is aware he is running the risk of going mad. He knows that his ranting could lead him to the brink of reason, and tries to calm himself.
In spite of his efforts, he knows insanity is not far off: “My wits begin to turn”. The thought of it terrifies him.
ANGRY FRENZY:
In this scene, we witness the king’s frenzied rage that the gentleman reported in the previous scene.
Lear wishes for nature to destroy all of humankind, so enraged is he after being humiliated by his daughters.

9. The Fool
DEVOTED:
We learn that the fool is doing is best to comfort Lear in his great pain.
Although the fool has been Lear’s harshest critic, we now see how much he loves and cares for the king.

10. Act three Scene III: Key Points
Gloucester is outraged at the behaviour of Cornwall and Regan.
He confides in Edmund his feelings, telling him of a letter he has received describing the arrival of forces favourable to Lear’s cause.
Edmund decides to betray his father and reveal all he has heard to Cornwall and Regan.

11. Gloucester
COURAGE:
In this scene, Gloucester finally decides where his loyalties lie. In spite of the threat to his own life, he decides that he can no longer stand by and watch the king suffer.
His conscience tells him that the “unnatural dealing” of Goneril, Regan and Cornwall is cruel and unnecessary.
We must admire his bravery. He is willing to take the ultimate risk to see Lear rescued: “Though I die for it, as no less is threatened me, the king, my old master must be relieved.” Unfortunately for Gloucester, he has no way of knowing that Edmund is ready to betray him.

12. Edmund
TRAITOR:
Edmund displays total selfishness and heartlessness in this scene. He intends to betray his father, though he must know his father could be executed if does so.
Edmund also makes clear the fact that he has no belief whatsoever in ties of family loyalty. He thinks it is perfectly natural for the young to take what he believes to be their rightful place at the top. He has no morality.

13. Act three Scene IV: Key Points
Lear, Kent and the Fool take cover from the storm in a hovel.
They are shocked to find ‘poor Tom’ (Edgar in disguise) already in the hovel.
Lear is drawn to poor Tom. Moved by his naked, helpless state, and finding meaning in his ranting.
Gloucester arrives at the hovel, saying that he has come to help Lear.

14. A KEY MOMENT!
In this scene, we see the main plot and the sub-plot directly entwine. Lear and his followers come upon Edgar in disguise , and the sight of poor Tom trips the king into madness. We see then Gloucester arrive and complain about Edgar’s betrayal. This most likely makes Edgar realise that both he and his father have been tricked by Edmund.

15. Lear MADNESS: GRIEVING:
It is in this scene that we see Lear slip into insanity. Outside of the hovel, he knows madness is very close: “O! that way madness lies; let me shun that”.
It appears to be the sight of poor Tom that pushes Lear over the edge. The first sign that he has lost his reason is when is asks Tom if he was reduced to poverty because of selfish daughters.
When Kent gently tries to distract from this topic, Lear grows very angry.
GRIEVING:
At the beginning of this scene, Lear’s anger seems to have faded and he is sunk in grief.
When Kent asks him to take cover in the hovel, he refuses, saying the storm distracts from the cruelty of his daughters.
The king has been crying and still can’t come to terms with what has happened: “Your old king father, who frank heart gave you all”.

16. EDGAR
POOR TOM:
We see Edgar in his new role as poor Tom in this scene. What is most impressive is how naturally he acts out his new identity. He completely fools Lear, Kent and the Fool, and even Gloucester shows no sign of recognising his son.
The character of Ton is a raving, poor madman, possessed by demons and he strikes a chord with Lear.

17. Act Three Scene V: Key Points
Edmund tells Cornwall that Gloucester is trying to help Lear, and give him the letter Gloucester received from France as proof.
Cornwall tells Edmund that he will be rewarded with his father’s title for his loyalty.
He instructs Edmund to find his father so that he can be punished for his betrayal.

18. Edmund
TRAITOR:
Edmund shows the depths of his ambition and heartlessness in this scene. He betrays Gloucester to Cornwall, knowing full well that his father could lose his life as a result.
Edmund’s only interest lies in gaining power. By removing Gloucester, he is another step closer to that goal.

19. Cornwall
CRUEL:
We see in this scene a hint of the cruelty in Cornwall’s soul that will be on full display shortly.
He is determined to get revenge on Gloucester for his “betrayal”.
Like Gloucester and Edgar before him, Cornwall also shows no suspicion of Edmund’s deeper motives. Instead, he rewards him by making him the new Earl of Gloucester.

20. Act Three Scene VI: Key Points
Gloucester brings Lear and the others to a farmhouse and goes to find supplies.
Lear conducts a mock-trial of Goneril and Regan, assisted by Edgar and the Fool.
Gloucester returns with news that a plot is being schemed against the king’s life, and says that Lear must be brought to Dover, where Cordelia waits with the French troops.
Edgar is left behind and makes a speech about suffering.

21. Lear
MADNESS:
Throughout this scene, we see that Lear’s madness has totally overcome him. Whatever shreds of reason he clung to in the storm have finally disappeared under the weight of his suffering.
The king seems possessed by notions of revenge and justice. He dreams of vengeance and stages a mock trial for his elder daughters.
If he cannot take revenge in reality, he will try to achieve it in the world of madness.
He is obsessed with finding an explanation for their cruelty, which shows us just how much pain Goneril and Regan have caused.

22. Kent THE KING’S MINDER:
Like Gloucester, Kent continues to show his unconditional loyalty to Lear. He tries to make his master comfortable in the shelter and regrets that the king must be moved to Dover when he desperately needs rest.
Kent is obviously greatly upset by the pain his master is going through.

23. Gloucester
COURAGE:
Gloucester continues to show his bravery by showing great care for the king. He is determined to rescue Lear from the storm.
When he returns, he confirms the rumours of a plot against Lear’s life. Gloucester has organised that Lear be brought to Dover.
His courage and the risk he runs to his own life make him an admirable character.

24. Act Three Scene VII: Key Points
Oswald informs Goneril, Regan and Cornwall that Gloucester has helped Lear escape to Dover.
Gloucester is captured and brought before Cornwall and Regan. Cornwall tears Gloucester’s eyes out.
Cornwall is then killed by a servant.
Regan has her servants throw the blind Gloucester out of the castle.

25. Edmund
HEARTLESS:
Although Edmund does not actually say anything in this scene, it is worth noting that he does not make any attempt to intervene on his father’s behalf by asking for mercy, or requesting that he not be punished too severely for his crimes.
All Edmund cares about is his own advancement.

26. Gloucester
COURAGE:
Gloucester shows incredible bravery and courage in this scene. He is completely defiant in the face of his cruel captors, knowing that the longer he can defy them, the greater the chance of Lear reaching Dover safely.
REALISES THE TRUTH:
As well as being cruelly blinded in this scene, Gloucester also learns that it was Edmund who betrayed him.
His reaction is not one of self-pity but of regret for the wrong he has done to Edgar. He shows great integrity.

27. Regan
VICIOUS:
Regan’s savagery and heartlessness matches that of her husband. She has no interest in sparing Gloucester and wants him executed immediately: “Hang him instantly”.
She orders her servants to bind him tightly and then plucks his beard. She clearly enjoys being able to torture Gloucester and has no hesitation is murdering the rebellious servant.
Her viciousness is also obvious when she clearly enjoys telling Gloucester that it was Edmund who betrayed him.

28. Cornwall
CRUEL:
Cornwall’s cruelty is on full-show in this scene. As before, he is determined to assert his authority by commanding everyone present. It is as if he feels the need to prove himself a man in front of the wife who usually talks down to him.
It is Cornwall who decides to blind Gloucester. One eye is not enough for him and in his rage, after being attacked by his servant, he finishes the job.
There is a grim satisfaction then knowing he has been fatally wounded. For once in the play, there is a hint that evil is repaid on the cruellest characters

29. Cornwall’s Servants DECENT AND COMPASSIONATE:
The one glimmer of light in this scene, dominated by savage cruelty is the compassion and decency shown by Cornwall’s servants.
One of them feels obliged to intervene and try and stop Gloucester’s torture, despite the risk to himself. Although he is killed, we cannot help but be satisfied knowing that he has fatally wounded Cornwall.
The other two servants also show decency. They ease Gloucester’s pain by applying egg-whites to his eyes and they get poor Tom to lead Gloucester to Dover. In a world dominated by selfishness and evil, they show ordinary decency.