King Lear
by
William Shakespeare
(Summary)
Lear, King of Britain, has three daughters:
Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. Goneril and Regan are married to the duke of
Albany and the duke of Cornwall respectively. King of France and the duke of
Burgundy are suitors for Cordelia. King Lear is a rash, impatient and unwise
old man. He intends to divide his kingdom among his daughters according to
their love. Goneril and Regan profess extreme love and thus get their shares.
Cordelia does not like their disguised hollow flattery and says that she loves
the King according to the bond of nature: neither more nor less. Lear in
rashness gives away her share also to Goneril and Regan on the condition that
he along with his hundred knights shall stay with each daughter in turn. King
of France marries Cordelia. Kent, the faithful knight of King Lear, speaks in
favour of Cordelia and is banished. Soon Goneril and Regan reveal their
heartless character as they grudge the maintenance of their father. They
finally turn him out of doors in a storm. The earl of Gloucester shows pity for
the King and his eyes are put out by Cornwall, husband of Regan. Gloucester’s legitimate
son Edgar disguises himself as a lunatic beggar and takes care of his father
till the latter’s death. Lear goes mad due to his own rage and ill treatment by
his elder daughters. He is served by the faithful Kent in disguise. They go to
Dover where Cordelia meets them. Goneril and Regan both love Edmund. Due to
rivalry, Goneril poisons Regan and commits suicide. Under the leadership of Edmund,
the English forces defeat the French and consequently Lear and Cordelia are put
in prison. Later Cordelia is hanged by order of Edmund. Lear dies of grief;
Edgar exposes Edmund’s treachery. Gloucester also passes away. Kent is ready to
serve his master in heaven. Albany who does not cooperate his wife Goneril in
her ill treatment to her father is left to rule over the Kingdom.
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