Plot Summary

Act I

Scene 1

• King Lear decides to divide his kingdom among his daughters.
• Goneril and Regan flatter Lear; Cordelia speaks honestly and is disinherited.
• Kent is banished for defending Cordelia.
• The King of France marries Cordelia despite her lack of dowry.

Scene 2

• Edmund schemes to betray his father, Gloucester, and brother, Edgar.
• Edmund forges a letter to frame Edgar.

Scene 3

• Goneril instructs her steward, Oswald, to treat Lear and his knights poorly.

Scene 4

• Lear arrives at Goneril's home and is disrespected by her servants.
• Goneril confronts Lear, who decides to leave for Regan's home.
• Lear curses Goneril and leaves with his Fool.

Scene 5

• Lear sends Kent (disguised as Caius) ahead to Regan.
• Lear starts to show signs of madness.

Act II

Scene 1

• Edmund tricks Gloucester into believing Edgar plans to kill him.
• Edgar flees, disguising himself as Poor Tom.
• Regan and Cornwall arrive at Gloucester's castle.

Scene 2

• Kent, in disguise, quarrels with Oswald and is put in the stocks by Regan and Cornwall.

Scene 3

• Edgar, now disguised as Poor Tom, takes refuge in the wilderness.

Scene 4

• Lear arrives at Gloucester's castle and is shocked to find Kent in the stocks.
• Regan and Goneril join forces against Lear, reducing his retinue.
• Lear storms out into a developing storm, accompanied by his Fool.

Act III

Scene 1

• Kent searches for Lear in the storm and sends a message to Cordelia.

Scene 2

• Lear rages against the storm on the heath, struggling with his madness.
• Kent finds Lear and leads him to the shelter.

Scene 3

• Gloucester reveals to Edmund his disapproval of Regan and Goneril's actions and plans to help Lear.
• Edmund betrays Gloucester to Cornwall.

Scene 4

• Lear, Kent, and the Fool take refuge in a hovel where they encounter Edgar disguised as Poor Tom.
• Gloucester arrives to lead Lear to better shelter.

Scene 5

• Edmund betrays his father to Cornwall and Regan, earning their favour.

Scene 6

• Gloucester hides Lear in a farmhouse.
• Lear holds a mock trial for his daughters with Poor Tom and the Fool.
• Gloucester decides to help Lear escape to Dover.

Scene 7

• Gloucester is captured and blinded by Cornwall.
• Cornwall is mortally wounded by a servant during the blinding.
• Regan dismisses Gloucester, who is then led by Poor Tom.

Act IV

Scene 1

• Blind Gloucester, led by Edgar, heads towards Dover.
• Gloucester wishes for death, but Edgar encourages him to continue.

Scene 2

• Goneril and Edmund plot against Albany.
• Albany condemns Goneril's cruelty.
• News arrives of Cornwall's death.

Scene 3

• Cordelia's forces are in Dover.
• Lear, in his madness, is roaming nearby.

Scene 4

• Cordelia sends soldiers to find Lear.

Scene 5

• Regan expresses jealousy over Goneril's relationship with Edmund.
• Regan plots to kill Gloucester.

Scene 6

• Edgar tricks Gloucester into thinking he survived a fall.
• Lear, mad and dishevelled, encounters Gloucester and Edgar.
• Lear is rescued by Cordelia's men.
• Oswald attempts to kill Gloucester but is slain by Edgar, who discovers Goneril's letters plotting Albany's death.

Scene 7

• Lear is reunited with Cordelia and begins to recover his sanity.
• They prepare for battle against the British forces.

Act V

Scene 1

• Regan and Goneril vie for Edmund's affection.
• Edgar gives Albany the letters exposing the plot against him.

Scene 2

• The battle between Lear and Cordelia's forces and the British army begins.

Scene 3

• Lear and Cordelia are captured by Edmund.
• Edmund orders Cordelia to be killed.
• Albany confronts Goneril and Regan with their treachery.
• Edgar defeats Edmund in a duel.
• Goneril poisons Regan and then kills herself.
• Edmund reveals his orders to kill Cordelia, but it is too late; Cordelia is hanged.
• Lear, carrying Cordelia's body, dies from grief.
• Albany, Edgar, and Kent are left to restore order in the kingdom.