English king lear 2.0

• Lear's plan

  1. Announces he will step down as king

  2. Divide his kingdom between his 3 daughters

  3. Ask each to publicly declare their love for him
• Gloucester: '"This knave came something saucily into the world"'
• Gloucester's embarrassment about Edmund's illegitimacy


  Raises questions about Gloucester's character (what kind of father he is & is he responsible)
• Lear

  • Scanning the map of Britain before handing over his kingdom
  • Seems to be playing to the court audience by demanding his daughters put on a show of affection for him
  • Persists in the 'love test' as a way of rewarding the daughter who says she loves him best
• Goneril's response

  • "I love you more than words can wield the matter"
• Cordelia's response

  • "I love, and be silent"
  • "My love's/more ponderous than my tongue"
  • "According to my bond; no more nor less"
• Lear's reaction to Cordelia's honesty


  Finds it "cold" and "untender", becomes enraged, decides to deprive her of her inheritance
• Lear's decision

  • Dividing the kingdom between two new rulers is not a good idea
  • Unable to see he cannot retain the official title and symbols of kingship if he is to truly give up his power
  • Little understanding of his own family and cannot distinguish between flattery and sincere expressions of affection
• Lear's decision to deprive Cordelia of her inheritance


  Humiliates her publicly, her "price has fallen" as she has no land and no money
• Cordelia's warning to her sisters


  • "Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides"
• Goneril and Regan's private conversation


  Prove Cordelia's words true, coldly discuss Lear's true personality and failings, agree to "Hit together" as they fear his reckless judgement
• Lear: '"To shake all cares and business from our age"'
• Cordelia: '"I cannot heave/my heart into my mouth"'
• Kent: '"Let me still remain/The true blank of thine eye"'
• France: '"A tardiness in nature/which often leaves the history unspoke/that it intends to do"'
• Goneril: '"The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash"'
• The royal house of Britain


  • Lear-king of Britain
  • Goneril-His eldest daughter
  • Regan-His second daughter
  • Cordelia-His youngest daughter
  • Duke of Albany-Goneril's husband
  • Duke of Cornwall-Regans husband
• The Gloucester Family

  • Earl Gloucester- Lear's loyal friend
  • Edgar/poor Tom- Gloucester's oldest son
  • Edmund- Gloucester's younger, illegitimate son
• Other Characters

  • The fool-Lear's loyal court jester
  • Earl of Kent/Caius-Lear's devoted supporter
  • Oswald-Goneril's Steward
  • King of France-He marries Cordelia and is willing to support her efforts to rescue Lear
  • Duke of Burgundy-Another suitor for Codelia. He rejects her when he learns that she has no dowry
  • Curan-Gloucester's servant
  • Old man-Tenant of Gloucester
  • Doctor-attendant to Cordelia
• Knights of Lear's entourage, gentlemen, soldiers, attendants, messengers, servants