Character Sketches

Lear

Lear is an old man, in where his best days have passed. Lear first enters the stage dressed in royal, but as

soon as he speaks we discover that he is an orderless old man. Lear wears a proper cloak; the visible signs

of royalty are present but the intell

Goneril and Regan

Two villains, of which Goneril seems perhaps more vicious than her younger sister. They represent evil as a

significant part of the play.

Kent

Kent has been described as one of the fine, plain characters of the play. He is straightforward and brave, and

he also has the ability to flatter, he shows a sense of loyalty throughout the play.

Cordelia

Cordelia refuses to favor her father in his game of flattery, she disappears. Her character is never well

developed. She demonstrates decency and clean honesty in the play full of evil and desire.

Gloucester

Gloucester's role in the parallel to that of Lear, although Gloucester serves as a model of what can happen if

one does not go mad.

Edgar

Opposite to his brother he is not a villain, but he withholds a good appearance throughout the play. Like his

father, Edgar serves as a foil to the main plot. He is alos a primary connection between the two plots. At the

very end as a loyal son, he is s

Edmund

The villain of Gloucester's plot, the traitorous evil son, serves as a point in where the two plots cross each

other.

Cornwall

The Duke of Cornwall, Regan's Husband, is the perfect portrait of a public man who has given himself in

towards corruption. He gained great place through marriage, and then gave way to his lusts. He gets what

he deserves in the end of the play, death.

Albany

The husband of Goneril, maintains a considerable dignity throughout the play. He is the loyal Englishman

who has accidentally fallen among evil doers.

The Fool

The Fool serves as a relief, to give the Shakespearean audience delight. Not only is he a wise fool, but he is

considerably committed to the side of good. He is a wise fool to teach a king hastening down the road to

madness, but he is not, a funny fool.

Minor Characters

The King of France and the Duke of Burgandy

The Duke of Burgandy is interested in -self-gain rather than love. The King of France on the other hand sees

Cordelia as a beautiful woman with the goodness that Lear ignores.

Oswald

Oswald is an unliked character, supporting Goneril in all of her evil acts. He carries messages between her

and Edmund.

Act I, Scene I

King Lear's palace, Britain. The Earl of Gloucester and the Earl of Kent discuss how Gloucester loves his

sons equally, Edmund (the older) the illegitimate; and Edgar. Although he loves both sons, Edgar is his heir.

Ling Lear enters and announces that he

Act I Scene II

The Earl of Gloucester's castle. Edmund introduces his plot to overthrow the claim of his legitimate brother

Edgar by giving a letter to Gloucester implying Edgar in scheme of treason against his father.

Act I, Scene III

The Duke of Albany's palace. Goneril is irritated with Lear's rude, demanding behavior in their home. She

instructs Oswald, her steward, to tell her servants to be less serviceable to Lear and his knights.

Act I, Scene IV

A hall in the Duke of Albany's palace. Kent returns disguised to serve his king faithfully. Within the scene,

the Fool shares wisdom to Lear in short telling him that he was a fool to give away his titles and land, placing

himself in care of his daughter

Act I, Scene V

The Duke of Albany's palace. Lear sends his disguised Kent to Regan with letters explaining his side of the

argument. The Fool engages Lear in a verbal battle in which the Fool cautions Lear for his unnatural,

unfatherly, unlikely behaviors.

Act II, Scene I

The Earl of Gloucester's castle. Edmund learns that Regan and the Duke of Cornwall will be at the castle

that night, thus setting in motion his new plan to grab hold of his father's title. Edgar enters. Edmund creates

a plot against his brother and urges

Act II, Scene II

Before Gloucester's castle. Kent And Oswald enter; they trade insults and blows and are parted by Edmund,

Regan, Gloucester, and Cornwall. Cornwall suggests that Kent should be placed in stocks while Gloucester

advises against punishment since it would d

Act II, Scene III

A wood. Edgar realizes that he will have no place of refuge as the " traitor son " of Gloucester; therefore, he

resolves to disguise himself as a madman. " Edgar " will become " nothing."

Act II, Scene IV

Before Gloucester's castle with Kent in the stocks. Enter Lear and the Fool to find Kent in the stocks. Lear is

angered by Gloucester when he says that Regan and Cornwall will not see the king. Regan and Cornwall

finally enter, releasing Kent from the st

Act III, Scene I

A heath. Still storms. Kent informs a Gentleman loyal to the king that there is a division between Cornwall

and Albany and that France sends an invasion force to England.

Act III, Scene II

Another part of the heath. Storms maintain their presence. Shouts to the wind about the unnaturalness of

daughters turning against his father. The Fool rhymes that Lear has caused all the trouble himself. Kent

persuades Lear to take shelter in the shack.

Act III, Scene III

Gloucester's castle. Gloucester confides the rift between Cornwall and Albany to Edmund, informs him of the

impending French force, and advises him that they must side with Lear. Edmund plots to tell all to Cornwall,

hoping to depose Gloucester and gain

Act III, Scene IV

The heath before a shack. Lear, Kent and the Fool meet Edgar disguised as " Poor Tom, " a madman and

beggar. Lear's madness and despair at his situation deepens. Gloucester finds the king and tells him of

Goneril's and Regan's commands - to lock Lear ou

Act III, Scene V

Gloucester's castle. Edmund reveals Gloucester's letters describing support of Lear and the French power to

Cornwall. Cornwall grants the Earldom to Edmund who is now referred to as Gloucester by the parties

against Lear.

Act III, Scene VI

A chamber in a farmhouse which is adjoining the castle. Gloucester leaves to find better lodgings than the

farmhouse. Lear holds a false trial of the absent Goneril and Regan with Edgar as the Magistrate, the Fool

as his partner, and Kent as one commissi

Act III, Scene VII

Gloucester's castle. Cornwall sends servants after the elder Gloucester and sends Goneril and Edmund after

the fleeing king. The elder Gloucester is captured, brought before Cornwall, and interrogated. At Regan's

goading, Cornwall attempts to pluckout th

Act IV, Scene I

The heath. Gloucester is led onto the heath by an old man, where they are met by Edgar (still disguised as

Poor Tom). At Gloucester's urgings, Edgar agrees to lead him high cliff at Dover.

Act IV, Scene II

Before the Duke of Albany's palace. Oswald reports to Goneril and Edmund that Albany has changed his

mind about his wife's ambitions and the plight of the king, expressing displeasure's in her actions. Goneril

promises herself to Edmund should Albany not

Act IV, Scene III

The French camp near Dover. A gentleman informs Kent that the King of France has returned home but has

left the Marshal; that Cordelia was moved with tears when she read Kent's letters; and that shame prevents

Lear (who is now in Dover) from seeing Corde

Act IV, Scene IV

A tent in the French camp at Dover. Cordelia sends a soldier to find her father to bring him under her doctor's

care. A messenger tells her that the British Army is advancing towards Dover.

Act IV, Scene V

Gloucester's castle. Oswald notifies Regan that Albany's army is on the march. Since Gloucester's condition

would rouse public outrage against the sister's reign, thus giving strength to the cause of Cordelia and the

French, Regan advises Oswald to post

Act IV, Scene VI

Fields near Dover. Edgar as Poor Tom pretends to take his father to a cliff edge where Gloucester " falls. "

This is done so Edgar may return to his father as a concerned stranger and so Gloucester may believe

himself " reborn " without the " evil spiri " Natural " man. Aftersome discussion, the King begins the last step

of his purification when Gloucester " recognizes " him as king. When a gentleman from Cordalia finds Lear,

he runs, unwilling to face " capture." Oswald enters with the intent to kill Gl

Act IV, Scene VII

A tent in the French camp. Lear has been dressed again in royal robes and wakes to speak with Cordelia.

He asks her forgiveness. A gentleman reveals to Kent that Edmund leads Cornwall's troops.

Act V, Scene I

A tent in the French camp near Dover. Edmund sends a gentleman to find what is Albany's " mind " purpose.

Regan questions Edmund about his intent with Goneril. Albany enters with his wife and soldiers. Ina aside,

Goneril confesses that she does not want

Act V, Scene II

A field between the two camps. The French lose the battle, and Cordelia and Lear are taken captive.

Act V, Scene III

The British camp near Dover. Edmund imprisons Lear and Cordelia. After they are taken off, Edmund

instructs a Captain to hang Cordelia but make it appear to be suicide. Albany, Goneril, and Regan enter.

Albany treats Edmund subserviently. Regan and Goner late. Lear enters, carrying dead Cordelia in his arms.

Lear believes that he sees Cordelia breath, after which he dies. There is some question - and considerable

discussion - about Lear's emotional state when he dies: joyous in perceiving Cordeli's death

Chronological Order of Events:

O Lear tests his daughters love

O Edmund tricks Gloucester into believing Edgar wrote a letter desiring Gloucester's death

O The Fool teaches Lear the difference between a sweet and bitter fool

O Gloucester restates to Edmund his possession of an incriminating letter

O Lear first expresses his fear of madness

O Lear curses Goneril and flees to Regan

O Kent is placed in the stocks

O Regan tells Lear to apologize to Goneril

O Cornwall and Regan shut the doors against Lear

O Edgar disguises himself as Poor Tom

O Lear asks Poor Tom if he gave everything to his daughters

O Cornwall promises Edmund the title of Earl

O Gloucester is blinded by Cornwall and Regan

O Edgar kills Oswald and takes the letter Oswald was to have delivered to Edmund

O Edgar saves his father from suicide

O Albany condemns Goneril's cruel behavior

O Regan is poisoned by her sister

O Lear sees the misery of the " poor wretches "

O Lear carries in the body of Cordelia

O Lear and Cordelia are reunited

Themes

O Natural and Unnatural:

O Self-knowledge and appearance or reputation

O Nothing, " nothing " binds a daughter to her father; " Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again " (Lear I,

Scene I)

Response to King Lear

I enjoyed King Lear very much, because I thought that the play's action didn't drag and maintained itself with

constant action. The play was full of chaos, conflicts, and semi determined ends. I believe that the tragedy

had a strong influence in the play

Metaphors Present:

King Lear is replete with metaphors involving animals or metaphors that decode behavior;

O " Sly as a Fox "

O " Busy as a Bee "

O " How sharper than a serpent's tooth " (Lear, Act I, Scene 4, line 283)

O " She'll flay thy wolvish visage " (Lear, Act I, Scene 4, line 303)

O " Sharp - toothed unkindness, like a vulture, here " (Lear, Act II, Scene 4, line 132)

O " Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain… that in the natures of their lords rebel… Bring oil to fire, snow to

their colder moods… renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks … Knowing naught, like dogs, but

following. " (Kent, Act II, Scene II, l O " She hath abated me of half my train, Look'd black upon me, struck me

with her tongue, most serpent like, upon thy very heart. " (Lear, Act II, Scene 4, line 155)

O " Because I would not see thy cruel nails, pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister, in his anointed

flesh rash boarish fangs. " (Gloucester, Act III, Scene 7) Ingrateful fox, tis he. " (Regan, Act III, Scene 7,

line29)

O " Tigers not daughters, what have you performed. " (Albany, Act IV, Scene II)

O " Edmund, I arrest thee on capital treason; and in thy attaint this gilded serpent. " (Albany, Act V, Scene III)

Imagery (on adjacent papers)

Quotations:

Love:

" What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent. " ( Cordelia, Act I, Scene I)

" I am sure my love's more ponderous than my tongue. " (Cordelia, Act I, Scene I)

Nature:

" Sure her offense must be of such unnatural degree that monsters it. "

" Though the wisdom of Nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself scourged by sequent

effects. Lovecools, friendship falls off, brothers divide. " (I, ii)

" Hear…Nature suspend thy purpose…Create her child of spleen, that it may live and be a thwart disnatured

torment to her. " (I, iv)

" Seeing how loathly opposite I stood to his unnatural purpose. "

To be Known:

" I know what are you and, like a sister, am most loath to call…" ( I,I)

" Who is it that can tell me who I am? " (I, iv)

" Why, what a monstrous fellow are thou, thus rail on one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee! " (II,

ii)

Appearances and Sights:

" Thy youngest daughter not love thee least , nor are those empty - hearted whose low sounds reverb no

hollowness. " (I, I)

" How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell " (I, iv)

Nothing:

" Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again. "(Lear, I, I)

" Away I have nothing to do with thee. " (II, ii)

" I am better than thou art now: I am a Fool, thou art nothing. "(I, vi)

" Nothing . I have sworn. I am firm. " ( I, I)

" Thou are in nothing less than I have proclaimed thee. " (V, iii)