Shakespeare's play King Lear was first published in 1608. A brief summary of this work is presented in this article. The playwright worked on it for two years - from 1605 to 1606. And on December 25, 1606, the first performance of the play “King Lear” took place on stage. We will describe its brief content sequentially, by acts and scenes. A portrait of the author of the work is presented below.
William Shakespeare is an outstanding playwright and poet, often called the national poet of England, and one of the world's best playwrights. The years of his life are from 1564 to 1616. Shakespeare's works that have come down to us include 38 plays, 4 poems, 154 sonnets and 3 epitaphs. Shakespeare's plays have been translated into many languages and are staged in theaters around the world more often than the works of all other playwrights.
Brief biography of Shakespeare
Between 1585 and 1592 Shakespeare's career began. It was at this time that he moved to London. After some time, William became a successful playwright, actor, and also co-owner of a theater company, later known as the King's Men. At the age of 48, around 1613, he returned to his native Stratford, where he died three years later. Little historical information has been preserved about the life of this playwright, so numerous theories are created by researchers based on the testimony of contemporaries and official documents. His religious views and appearance are still discussed in the scientific community. There is also a view that the works attributed to Shakespeare were created by someone else. Most Shakespeare scholars, however, reject it.
So, let's begin to describe the brief content of the work.
Lear divides his inheritance between his three daughters
The first scene of the first act begins as follows. Lear, the king of Britain, having grown old, decided to divide the kingdom between his three daughters and spend the end of his life in peace. He demands, having gathered his relatives, that his daughters express their love to him before he transfers the lands to them. The two eldest - Regan and Goneril (wives of the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany) - make flattering, sugary speeches to their father.
However, the third daughter, Cordelia, a straightforward girl, is disgusted by her sisters' insincerity. She refuses to vent to her father, limiting herself to only a few restrained words. King Lear is indignant at this. The summary of the work continues with the fact that he loudly renounces Cordelia. The king says that the kingdom will be divided in half between Regan and Goneril, giving nothing to his youngest daughter.
The expulsion of the Earl of Kent, the marriage of the French king to Cordelia, the insidious plan of Regan and Goneril
The noble Earl of Kent, who is present, tries to dissuade the king from taking an unreasonable step. But Lear, showering Kent with abuse, expels him from the country. One of Cordelia's two suitors, the Duke of Burgundy, having learned that the girl was deprived of her inheritance, renounces his betrothed. However, the second, who is the French king, admires the girl’s selflessness. He happily takes her as his wife. Cordelia says that time will tell Lear which of his daughters truly loved him. This prophecy will later come true. The greedy Regan and Goneril at the end of this scene confer in private on how to curb the “crazy father” in order to take away the last remnants of power from the king.
Edmund's plan
Let's move on to the description of the second scene of the first act of the play "King Lear". We will continue the summary of this work with the insidious plan of Edmund, who is the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester. He wants to take possession of his father's inheritance, pushing aside his legitimate son, the trusting and kind Edgar. For this purpose, Edmund shows Gloucester a letter written in the forged handwriting of his beloved Edgar. In it, he allegedly offers his brother to kill his father in order to divide his county into two. Gloucester buys into this deception. Edmund tells Edgar that Gloucester is very angry with him because of some slander. He advises his brother not to walk around without a weapon and not to catch his father's eye.
Lear goes to Goneril
In the third scene of the play that Shakespeare created ("King Lear"), we will supplement the summary with new events. Lear, having given his two eldest daughters the kingdom, comes to live with the Duke of Albany and Goneril. The daughter, having learned that her father liked one of her courtiers, orders Oswald, her butler, to communicate with Lear as rudely as possible in order to deliberately cause a break with him.
Kent enters the king's service
And here it is - the fourth scene. The Earl of Kent, expelled from Britain, does not lose his loyalty to Lear, who expelled him. Realizing that the two daughters will soon begin to oppress the king, he dresses up, changes his appearance, and then comes to Goneril’s palace and enters the service of Lear. He already notices that Goneril’s people are treating him without due respect. His favorite jester laughs at him because, having voluntarily given up power, he acted like a fool.
Lear quarrels with Goneril, goes to Regan
Goneril, who came to Lear, talks to him arrogantly and harshly. She reproaches her father for the outrages allegedly committed by his 100 bodyguards. The girl demands to dissolve at least half. Lear, outraged, curses his daughter. He gathers people to go to Regan. Then Goneril sends Oswald to her sister with a letter in which she calls on Regan to act together with her against her father’s “madness.”
In the fifth scene, Lear instructs Kent, who is unrecognized by him, to deliver a message to Regan, in which her father tells her about the quarrel with Goneril. His jester continues to laugh at the king. He prophesies that the second daughter will treat him no better than the first.
Edgar's flight
The first scene of the second act of the tragedy begins, the author of which is Shakespeare (“King Lear”). A summary of the events described in it is outlined below. Edmund convinces Edgar that the Earl of Gloucester is even more furious against him. He persuades his brother to run away. Edgar follows his advice. Edmund tells his father that before fleeing, Edgar tried to kill him by attacking him with a sword. Gloucester decides to disown his legitimate son. He says that he will bequeath all his possessions to Edmund. Regan, along with her husband, the Duke of Cornwall, arrives at Gloucester Castle. The girl received a letter from her sister and intends to help Goneril in her intrigues against her father.
Skirmish between Kent and Oswald
This is a very interesting episode, which Shakespeare introduces us to in the second scene (King Lear). It is impossible to compose a chapter-by-chapter summary without mentioning it. Kent, disguised as an earl, arrives with a message from Lear to Regan. He meets Oswald, Goneril's messenger, and attacks this vile man with a sword. Regan and Cornwall, who came running in response to the noise, order Kent to be put in stocks. He says that such humiliation of the ambassador of King Lear himself is an insult to the king. But neither Cornwall nor Regan is deterred. Like Goneril, they seek to openly break with him.
Edgar pretends to be crazy
In the third scene, Edgar, having fled from his father's castle, learns that they are looking for him in order to punish him as a traitor. Then Edgar decides to change clothes and hide behind the guise of a wandering madman.
The impasse in which the king found himself
The events of the play continue in the fourth scene. Let us describe their very brief content. King Lear, who arrived at the castle belonging to Gloucester, sees Kent, his ambassador, chained in stocks. Lear initially refuses to believe that such a terrible insult was inflicted on him. Regan and Cornwall come out to him. The king tells them about Goneril's insolence. However, Regan justifies her sister in everything. Goneril herself arrives at the castle. She calls her father "grumpy" and "crazy" to his face. Regan refuses to give Lear shelter. The girl insists that he return to Goneril and order all his bodyguards to be dismissed. The king, shocked, leaves the castle. He doesn't know where to go. Thus, King Lear finds himself at a dead end. The summary of the acts, however, does not end there. All the most interesting things are yet to come. A terrible thunderstorm is approaching, but Lear's daughters lock all the gates, not caring where their father will spend this stormy night.
Kent finds Lear
In the first scene of the third act, the Earl of Kent, as well as one of the king's courtiers, are looking for Lear, abandoned by his daughters. The king, meanwhile, wanders in despair in the open air in the middle of a raging thunderstorm.
In the second scene, William Shakespeare describes the heartfelt monologues that King Lear pronounces in the pouring rain. Their summary is as follows: Lear speaks of the heartlessness and ingratitude of Regan and Goneril. Then Kent finds him and takes him to a hut nearby.
French troops landing in Britain
Further events unfold in the third scene. The Earl of Gloucester tells Edmund that the French army has landed in Britain. Gloucester sympathizes with Lear. He wants to help the king regain his throne. Edmund intends to convey this intention to his father to Cornwall, hoping that he will take the earldom from Gloucester and transfer it to him.
Further intrigue
In the fourth scene of the third act, the jester, Kent and the main character of the work that W. Shakespeare created, King Lear, come to the hut. We will describe a brief summary of further events, mentioning in a nutshell the unexpected meeting. Three of these heroes find Edgar here, dressed in a beggar's dress. Edgar pretends to be mad. The Earl of Gloucester, who appeared immediately, takes Lear and his companions under the protection of a reliable shelter. Gloucester recognizes neither the Earl of Kent nor Edgar, his son.
In scene five, Edmund brings a forged letter to Cornwall. It says that Gloucester, his father, allegedly spied for the French. Cornwall orders to find and capture Gloucester. He transfers his counthood to Edmund.
How King Lear Lost His Mind
A summary of the scenes of the work we are interested in approaches the description of one dramatic event. In the sixth scene, brought by Gloucester to a farm located near the castle, King Lear practically loses his mind from grief. In his semi-insanity, he plays out the scene of the trial of his daughters. Since Lear may be in danger from Regan and Cornwall, the jester and Kent carry the king, on the advice of Gloucester, to the port of Dover on a stretcher. Everything has already been prepared for his escape.
Gloucester is blinded
In the last, seventh scene of the third act, Shakespeare talks about the following events. Cornwall learns that Gloucester helped King Lear escape. He is captured and brought to Cornwall and Regan. Regan's husband tears out both eyes from Gloucester. In an attempt to intercede for the latter, one of the servants wounds Cornwall with a sword. Blind Gloucester is thrown into the street. The servants give him as a guide a madman wandering around the area, that is, Edgar.
Reunion of father and son
In the first scene of the fourth act, blind Gloucester is brought to Edgar. Edgar hears his father moaning loudly about his injustice towards him, but decides not to reveal himself for some time. Gloucester asks Edgar to take him to Dover, where he wants to throw himself off a cliff into the sea.
Goneril enters into a relationship with Edmund, death of Cornwall
In the second scene, Edmund, as Regan's envoy, comes to Goneril. The latter's husband, the Duke of Albany, does not approve of her arrogant treatment of her own father. He is not very eager to fight the French army that landed in order to restore the rights of King Lear. Goneril, dissatisfied with her husband, tries to enter into a love affair with Edmund. Regan's messenger informs her, as well as her husband, that the Duke of Cornwall has died. He died from a wound he received in a fight with a servant who stood up for Gloucester.
Return of Cordelia
Shakespeare tells us in the third scene what Kent learns in the French camp. It turns out that Cordelia is at the head of the army that landed on the shore. She, unlike her sisters, did not lose her love for her father, and arrived here with an army in order to protect Lear from her sisters. The forces of Cornwall and Albany had already moved against the French.
Sisters' rivalry over Edmund
In the fourth scene, Cordelia, having learned that her father had almost lost his mind from grief, orders him to be found and cured. In the next scene, Regan, now a widow, makes plans to marry Edmund. She sees a dangerous rival in her sister Goneril. Regan sends the butler Oswald to find the blind Gloucester in order to kill him.
The Wanderings of Gloucester and King Lear, the Death of Oswald
The play continues with the following events in the sixth scene. Edgar, continuing to play the role of a madman, brings his father to the vicinity of Dover. Here he puts it down out of the blue and says that in front of Gloucester there is a sea cliff. Edgar's father, having decided to commit suicide, takes a step forward. After this, Edgar approaches him and, now playing the role of another person, convinces his father that he flew off the cliff, but, nevertheless, remained alive. They notice Lear, a crazed king wearing a flower crown, wandering around the area delivering bizarre monologues. After some time, Cordelia's servants find him and take him to the doctor. Oswald, who suddenly appeared, wants to kill Gloucester. However, he dies in a fight with Edgar. At Oswald's, Edgar finds a letter from Goneril addressed to Edmund. She convinces him to kill the Duke of Albany, her husband, during the battle with the French.
In the seventh scene, Lear is restored to sanity by the care of the doctors. Having come to his senses, King Lear talks with Cordelia. The summary of the actions does not convey the details of the conversations between the characters. Let's just say that the king thanks his daughter for her love and devotion and repents for the injustice towards her.
The beginning of the fifth act of "King Lear"
The summary of actions and phenomena is already approaching the end. Let's move on to the description of the last act. In its first scene the following events occur. Regan, in the British camp, offers his love to Edmund. An already open rivalry over him simmers between her and Goneril. Edgar, in disguise, comes to Albany. He hands him a letter in which his wife makes plans to murder Albany at the hands of Edmund. Edgar is ready to prove the authenticity of this letter in a legal duel with Edmund.
Final Events
So we have come to the finale of the work that Shakespeare created - “King Lear”. A summary of the acts of this tragedy does not, naturally, convey all the tension and drama inherent in the play. In the second scene, Gloucester and Edgar learn that Cordelia’s army was defeated in the battle, and King Lear and her were captured by the British. In the final scene of the play, Edmund, having captured Cordelia and Lear, orders them both imprisoned and then secretly orders their murder.
Regan announces that she wants to become Edmund's wife. However, Goneril, who foresaw this turn in advance, manages to give her sister poison. Regan, feeling sick, is taken to a tent.
As you can see, William Shakespeare came up with a very poignant plot for his work. "King Lear" (chapter summary) ends with a very dynamic finale. Albany, having read the letter given to him by Edgar, accuses Edmund of betrayal and lies. The herald summons someone who wants to support this accusation by force of arms. Edgar answers the call. He enters into a duel with Edmund, mortally wounds his opponent and reveals his real name. Her husband shows Goneril a letter in which she makes plans to murder Albany. The girl leaves, after which she stabs herself with a dagger. Before her death, she confesses that she poisoned her sister.
"King Lear", a summary of which we describe chapter by chapter, does not end there. Before his death, Edmund talks about the order he gave (to kill Cordelia and Lear). People are running to prison, trying to save the unfortunate. However, it turns out that Cordelia has already been hanged there. King Lear, brought from prison, dies near the body of his daughter. Albany orders the burial of both of them and asks Kent and Edgar to support him in the revival of the country. This is where King Lear ends. The chapter summary describes only the main events, without touching on details. We have tried to present them briefly.
Scene 1
In the throne room of King Lear's palace, the Earl of Kent and the Earl of Gloucester discuss the division of the kingdom. Gloucester introduces Kent to his natural son Edmond. King Lear appears in the hall with his daughters, the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany and his retinue. He orders Gloucester to go for the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy.
King Lear asks his daughters how much each of them loves him? Goneril, the wife of the Duke of Albany, gives an eloquent and poetic declaration of love, for which she inherits a huge part of the kingdom. Regan, the wife of the Duke of Cornwall, says that she and her sister are “of the same breed” and know no other joys than love for their father. As a reward, the girl receives an equally beautiful part of the kingdom. Cordelia, for whose hand the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy are arguing, admits that she loves her father as her duty dictates, and after marriage she will be forced to give part of her tenderness to her husband. King Lear becomes angry and disowns his youngest daughter. He gives a third of Cordelia's inheritance to her older sons-in-law and says that he will live with each of his daughters for a month. The Earl of Kent tries to reason with the king, but Lear does not want to listen to anything. He orders him to leave the kingdom within five days, otherwise death awaits the traitor.
The Duke of Burgundy does not want to take the disinherited Cordelia as his wife. The King of France sees in the girl, who was once Lear's beloved daughter and suddenly fell out of favor, a precious treasure of purity and sincerity and happily makes her his queen. Saying goodbye to her sisters, Cordelia asks them to be merciful to their father. Goneril and Regan agree to weaken Lear's power in order to retain his inheritance.
Scene 2
In the hall of the Earl of Gloucester's castle, Edmond, with a letter in his hands, discusses his right to his father's inheritance. The young man plans to commit forgery to frame his brother Edgar.
When his father appears, Edmond hastily hides the letter in his pocket. The Earl of Gloucester begs his son to give him "Edgar's" letter, in which the latter writes about his desire to manage his father's finances without waiting for his death. Edmond promises his father to bring Edgar to clean water, and turns Edgar against his father.
Scene 3
In the palace of the Duke of Albany, Goneril asks her butler Oswald whether it is true that King Lear killed one of her courtiers for cursing him as a jester? Having received an affirmative answer, the king’s eldest daughter calls in sick and gives Oswald orders to treat her father’s servants as coolly as possible.
Scene 4
Kent, in disguise, is hired as a servant to Lear. The royal jester is moping. Oswald treats the king without due respect. The jester who comes to Lear's call calls him a fool for giving his power into the hands of those who do not love him. Goneril asks his father to pacify the riot of his people by dismissing a significant part of his retinue. King Lear is furious at his daughter's words. He curses her with infertility. The Duke of Albany tries in vain to understand the reason for his father-in-law's discontent. Getting ready to set off, King Lear discovers that out of a hundred people in his retinue, he has fifty left. Goneril sends Oswald with a letter to Regan.
Scene 5
Courtyard in the castle of the Duke of Albany. King Lear sends Kent with a letter to his daughter. The jester entertains his master.
Act II
Scene 1
Courtyard of the Earl of Gloucester's castle. The courtier Kuran tells Edmond about the upcoming visit of the Duke of Cornwall with his wife and a possible war between him and the Duke of Albany.
Edmond, who was ordered by his father to arrest Edgar, arranges a mock fight with the latter, supposedly necessary for his escape. He tells Gloucester about his brother’s desire to kill his father and the attempt on his, Edmond’s, life. The Count sends his servants in pursuit of Edgar.
The Duke of Cornwall and Regan sympathize with Gloucester and offer Edmond a place in their retinue. The count promises his side son the transition to the status of legal heir.
Scene 2
In front of Gloucester's castle, Oswald asks Kent where he can park the horses. Kent insults the vile scoundrel and draws his sword against him. Owners and servants come running to hear the noise. Having found out the cause of the quarrel, the Duke of Cornwall orders Kent to be put in stocks until lunch. Regan says that this is not enough and extends the sentence until the morning. Gloucester asks the Duke to write about what happened to the King and give Lear the opportunity to punish his servant himself. The Duke of Cornwall refuses. Gloucester apologizes to Kent. Falling asleep in the stocks, the latter reads Cordelia's letter.
Scene 3
Edgar, hiding in the forest, decides to change his appearance and become a crazy beggar.
Scene 4
King Lear asks Kent, who was chained in stocks, who dared to do this to him? The faithful servant tells of Oswald's treachery, which interrupted Kent's report and caused the Duke of Cornwall and Regan to flee to the count's possessions.
Gloucester conveys to the king the words of the Duke and Regan that they are sick and tired from the road. Lear demands to be accepted. The Duke of Cornwall and his wife come to the king. Regan believes that her father should return to Goneril and ask her for forgiveness.
The Duke of Cornwall admits that Kent was put in stocks on his orders. Regan happily meets Goneril and invites his father to dismiss part of his retinue and live, as he planned, with one or the other daughter. Lear does not want to return to Goneril. Regan refuses to accept her father, citing the fact that she did not have time to prepare the palace for his arrival, and asks to visit her with a retinue of twenty-five people. Arguing about how many personal servants their father should have, the daughters gradually come to the conclusion that - none: King Lear, in their opinion, would have enough servants of Goneril or Regan.
A storm is coming. King Lear and his retinue leave. Goneril and Regan justify their actions to each other.
Act III
Scene 1
Steppe. The courtier tells Kent how King Lear battles the storm alone. Kent explains to him that France has decided to conquer the kingdom, weakened by ducal disputes. The courtier, at Kent's request, goes to Dover to notify Cordelia of the king's unfortunate fate.
Scene 2
At the other end of the steppe, King Lear calls thunder and lightning on his head. The jester invites him to return to his daughters’ dry house. Kent finds King Lear and invites him to wait out the storm in a hut. The jester prophesies that when people become noble, then the end of the world will come.
Scene 3
A room in Gloucester Castle. Gloucester complains to Edmond about the heartlessness of the dukes, talks about the army landing in the country and the mysterious letter he locked in his room. The Earl asks his son to distract the attention of the dukes while he helps King Lear. Edmond immediately decides to hand over his father to his new master in order to clear his path to inheritance.
Scene 4
Kent persuades King Lear to hide from the weather in a hut. Upset by his daughter's ingratitude, the ruler wants to be left alone with the storm, since it helps him not to think about the misfortune that happened to him. The Jester finds Edgar in the hut, pretending to be crazy Tom. King Lear believes that the latter suffered the same misfortune as himself. Edgar reveals that in the past he was a pleasure-living rake. King Lear admires poor Tom for being a real man.
Gloucester appears in the hut. He offers King Lear shelter. The latter refuses to leave the hut without “his philosopher.”
Scene 5
The Duke of Cornwall thanks Edmond for his loyalty and makes him the new Earl of Gloucester.
Scene 6
Gloucester brings King Lear to a farm adjacent to the castle. The maddened ruler arranges a funny trial of his daughters, appointing Edgar as a judge, noise as a sage, and Kent as a juror.
Gloucester tells Kent about the plot against the king. Together they put the sleeping Lear on a stretcher and set off for Dover. Edgar feels better at the sight of the royal grief.
Scene 7
The Duke of Cornwall orders Edmond to accompany Goneril to her husband. He asks the Duke of Albany to start arming himself in order to give a worthy rebuff to the French troops. Oswald reports on the betrayal of Gloucester and the king's flight to Dover.
The servants bring Gloucester to the castle. The Duke of Cornwall orders the “traitor” to be tied up. Regan, in a fit of anger, pulls his beard. Enraged by his subject's disobedience, the Duke of Cornwall tears out his eye.
The first servant comes to Gloucester's defense. The Duke of Cornwall draws his sword. A servant wounds his master. Regan snatches the sword from another servant and kills the first. The Duke of Cornwall deprives Gloucester of his second eye. From Regan, the Count learns about Edmond's betrayal and understands that Edgar has been slandered. The second and third servants take the blinded Gloucester with them.
Act IV
Scene 1
Edgar meets his blinded father in the steppe. Gloucester asks the guide to find clothes for the beggar. He takes the latter as a guide and asks him to lead him to a large cliff hanging over the abyss.
Scene 2
In front of the palace of the Duke of Albany, Goneril is surprised that her husband did not meet her. Oswald reports to the hostess about the strange behavior of the ruler. Goneril orders Edmond to return to the Duke of Cornwall to lead the troops. In return, she offers him her love.
The Duke of Albany reproaches his wife for her unworthy behavior towards her father. Goneril insults her husband. The latter can hardly restrain himself from tearing her into pieces.
A messenger brings news of Cornwall's death. Goneril leaves to compose a letter to her sister. The Duke of Albania promises to reward the unfortunate Gloucester and King Lear.
Scene 3
In the French camp near Dover, Kent asks the courtier what forced the king of France to leave the army (state affairs), who is now in command last (Marshal of France - Mr. Lafar) and what impression the letter received made on the queen (she cried).
Scene 4
Cordelia orders the officer to send soldiers to find her father. The doctor says that only rest and medicinal herbs can restore the patient’s sanity. A messenger reports to Cordelia that British troops are approaching.
Scene 5
Regan asks Oswald to show her her sister's letter to Edmond, to whom she became engaged after her husband's death. Goneril's butler does not give the message, but promises Regan support in eliminating Gloucester.
Scene 6
Edgar allows his father to make an imaginary jump from a cliff and repent of his desire to die. On the plain they meet King Lear, decorated with flower wreaths, carrying nonsense full of deep meaning.
King Lear runs away from a courtier and servants. Oswald wants to kill Gloucester. Edgar comes to his father's defense. Before his death, Oswald asks Edgar to deliver a letter to Edmond, in which Goneril asks the latter to kill her husband.
Scene 7
King Lear sleeps inside a French tent. Cordelia thanks Kent for his help. The awakened King Lear gradually begins to recognize those around him. Kent and the courtier talk about the upcoming battle with the British.
Act V
Scene 1
In the British camp near Dover, Edmond swears to Regan that he never had any plans for Goneril. Edgar, in disguise, gives the Duke of Albany a letter from Goneril to Edmond. Before the battle, Edmond reflects on his plans for the future.
Scene 2
The British are winning. Edmond takes King Lear and Cordelia prisoner. He orders the officer to take them to the fortress and hands him a letter with further instructions regarding the prisoners.
The Duke of Albania wants to decide the fate of the prisoners. Edmond opposes him on the grounds of supposed brotherhood. Regan and Goneril argue over a potential husband. The Duke of Albany accuses Edmond of treason. Regan feels bad.
Events take place in the castle of the King of Britain. King Lear is a man with unlimited power. Knowing his dominance, he was convinced that the royal influence was great not only over those around him, but also over his daughters. However, the time has come for him to think about his future and the marriage of his three daughters: Regan, Cordelia and Goneril.
Before determining what share of the inheritance would go to each of his daughters, he wanted to hear words of love, submission and gratitude from them. In order to get most of the kingdom, Goneril lies about his admiration. The king hears the same feigned words from Regan. He does not understand that their hypocrisy contained a trick and betrayal. The third daughter, Cordelia, confesses her affection and goodwill to her father, but her words infuriate Lear. Despite the fact that the Earl of Kent tried to intercede on her behalf, the daughter’s calm did not meet the king’s expectations.
The father mercilessly abandons Cordelia, reproaching her, leaving her without an inheritance. Kent is sent into exile. The King of France sees Cornelia's true attitude, her love and devotion to Lear. He will marry her.
At this time, the Earl of Gloucester, who is a close associate of the king, does not notice the treachery on the part of his son Edmund. He, in turn, frames his brother Edgar in every possible way. He tries to get his father's inheritance through deception and intrigue. Thus, forcing Edgar to flee.
Deciding to live with his two daughters in turn, the king visited Goneril.
The transformation of his daughter surprised Lear. Her arrogance, pride and ruthlessness forced her father to leave this house once and for all. The king’s hopes were not justified when visiting Regan. He wanted to receive protection from another daughter, but instead he found his friend Kent, imprisoned by her order. The father realizes that he made a mistake and was in vain to be generous with her. Humiliated, abandoned by his own children and broken, Lear curses them. He experienced inner anxiety, losing his mind. And only the jester is always nearby. King Lear, who has fallen into despair, is found by Kent and promises to take him to the hut.
The Earl of Gloucester is loyal to Lear until his death. He treats the king with pity, trying to help him gain unlimited power again. Edmund tells the Duke of Cornwall about his plans. The Count helps King Lear escape. For this, the insidious sisters deprive him of his sight. Cordelia, having heard about the misfortune that happened to her father, tries to find him and heal him. But the sisters order to imprison them. This does not frighten the king. Being with Cordelia, he only wants her forgiveness. The next news - Cordelia's hanging - destroys her father. Lear could not bear such a loss and died. Goneril injects poison into Regan, then dies herself.
The story of the tragic fate of the British king and his three daughters has become a classic of world literature. The dramatic plot has earned high popularity: there are many theatrical productions and film adaptations of the work.
The dramatic work was created on a legendary basis - the story of the British King Lear, who in his declining years decided to transfer power to his children. As a result, the monarch became a victim of the neglect of his two eldest daughters, and the political situation in the kingdom worsened, threatening his complete destruction. Shakespeare added another storyline to the well-known legend - the relationships in the family of the Earl of Gloucester, whose illegitimate son, for the sake of power and position, did not spare either his brother or his father.
The death of the main characters at the end of the work, intense pathos, a system of characters built on contrasts are absolute signs of a classic tragedy.
"King Lear": a summary of the play
The British King Lear is going to marry off his three daughters, divide the lands into three parts and give them as dowries, handing over the reins of government to their husbands. He himself plans to live out his life as a guest in turn with his daughters. Before the division of the lands, the proud Lear wanted to hear from the children how much they loved their father and to give them what they deserved.
The two eldest daughters Goneril and Regan swore to their father of their unearthly love for him and, having received equal shares of land, became the wives of the Dukes of Albany and Cornwall. The youngest daughter Cordelia, to whom the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy were wooing, sincerely loving her father, was pure in soul and did not want to show off her feelings. She didn't answer. When the king was outraged by such disrespect, she said that she would not marry, since she would have to give most of her love to her husband, and not to her father.
The king, not seeing the selfless purity of his daughter, renounced her, depriving her of her dowry and dividing the land between her older sisters. The Earl of Kent, a loyal subject of the king, stood up for Cordelia, for which Lear expels him from Britain. The Duke of Burgundy refused the landless bride, and the wise king of France, seeing the purity of the girl, happily took her as his wife. The eldest daughters, believing that their father is out of his mind, decide to stick together and remove the king from power as much as possible.
The illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, Edmund, decides to get rid of his brother Edgar in order to gain his father's love, inheritance and honorary title. He shows his father a letter, allegedly written by his brother, where Edgar persuades him to kill his father together. And he tells his brother that the count wants to destroy him. Trusting Gloucester renounced his own son and put him on the wanted list. Edgar is forced to hide, pretending to be crazy Tom.
The king is visiting Goneril, who has reduced the staff of his servants by half and ordered her own not to indulge their father. The exiled Kent, disguised as Kai, becomes the king's loyal servant. The neglectful attitude of the daughter and her yard offended the father. Cursing her, the king went to Regan. She kicks her father out into the street on a stormy night. The king, the jester and Kent take refuge from the weather in a hut, where they meet Edgar, pretending to be crazy.
Goneril, along with Regan and her husband, plots to get rid of the king. Overhearing this, Gloucester secretly decides to help Lear, who has lost his mind from grief, by sending him to Dover, where the headquarters of the French forces that attacked decapitated Britain are located. Edmund, trying to please the king's daughters, reports his father's plans. Maddened with anger, Regan's husband, the Duke of Cornwall, tears out Gloucester's eyes. The servant, trying to stop the Duke, wounds him and Cornwall dies. Edgar, disguised as crazy Tom, becomes the guide of the exiled Earl of Gloucester and leads him to the king.
Goneril returns home with Edmund and learns that her husband does not support their behavior. She promises her heart to young Gloucester and sends him back. Regan's widow also shows Edmund her love. He vows to be faithful to each of them.
Kent brought the king to Cordelia. She is shocked by her father's insanity and persuades the doctors to heal him. Having woken up, Lear asks his daughter for forgiveness. Edgar meets Goneril's servant Oswald, who is tasked with destroying Gloucester. After fighting him, Edgar kills him and takes Goneril's letter. With this letter he goes to the Duke of Albany, from which it becomes known about the connection between his wife and Edmund. Edgar asks the Duke, if the British win, to get even with his brother.
Both armies are preparing for battle. As a result of the battle, the British army, led by Edmund and Regan, won. Goneril, having guessed about her sister's plans for Edmund, is jealous and decides to get rid of her sister. Edmund rejoices after capturing Cordelia and the king. He sends them to prison and gives special instructions to the guard. The Duke of Albania demands the extradition of the king and his youngest daughter. However, Edmund does not agree. While the sisters quarrel over Edmund, the Duke accuses all three of treason and, showing Goneril's letter, calls for someone who can fight the traitor. Edgar comes out and, having defeated his brother in battle, says his name.
Edmund understands that retribution has been accomplished for what he did to his brother and father. Before his death, he admitted that he had ordered the death of the king and Cordelia, and ordered that they be urgently sent for. Unfortunately, it was too late. The dead Cordelia, who was hanged by the guard, was carried out in the arms of the unfortunate king, and the courtier reported that Goneril, having poisoned her sister, had stabbed herself.
Unable to bear Cordelia's death, the king's life, full of suffering and torment, is interrupted. And the surviving loyal subjects understand that they need to be persistent, as required by the rebellious times.
Characteristics
"King Lear", according to critics, is more a work of reading than a stage play. The play is full of events, but the philosophical reflections of the characters occupy a greater place in it.
Rich world of characters
Each character, created by the author skillfully and truthfully, has a special character and inner world. Each hero has his own personal tragedy, into which Shakespeare initiates the reader.
The king is strong and confident from the first scenes. However, at the same time, he is selfish and blind, which is why he loses his crown, power, respect and his own children. His mind comprehends the truth as much as possible at the moment of insanity. The creation of the remaining images of the work is close to the system of the classic division of characters into positive and negative.
The main idea of the play
The work is based on the eternal problem of fathers and sons, depicted by the example of two families - King Lear and the Earl of Gloucester. In both cases, fathers are humiliated and betrayed by their children. But it cannot be said that they are innocent victims of what happened. King Lear's pride and arrogance, inability to see the truth, and tendency to make rash and categorical decisions led to a tragic outcome. The illegality of conceiving a son, who felt second-class and tried to gain a position in society by any means, is the reason for Edmund’s behavior.
Shakespeare's play King Lear was written in 1606 and first published in 1608. The great English playwright took a medieval British legend as the basis for the plot. This is a story about a king who divided his rich possessions between his eldest daughters, leaving the youngest without an inheritance.
To better prepare for a literature lesson, we recommend reading online a summary of “King Lear” by acts (chapters) and scenes. A retelling of the play will also be useful for the reader's diary.
Main characters
King Lear- King of Britain, a proud and despotic man.
Goneril, Regan- the eldest daughters of Lear, hypocritical and selfish girls.
Cordelia– the youngest daughter of Lyra, a loving and sincere girl.
Duke of Cornwall (Cornwall)- Regan's husband.
Duke of Albany- Goneril's husband.
Earl of Gloucester- a loyal servant of King Lear.
Edgar- son of the Earl of Gloucester, his only legitimate heir.
Edmund- illegitimate son of Gloucester, a narcissistic and mercantile young man.
Other characters
King of France- Cordelia's husband.
Earl of Kent- a faithful, selfless servant of King Lear.
Oswald- Goneril's butler, a vile person.
Act I
Scene 1
The Earl of Gloucester and the Earl of Kent are discussing among themselves the division of the kingdom of the old ruler. They note that all parts of the impressive inheritance “are so aligned that even with the most careful analysis it is impossible to say which is better.”
Meanwhile, King Lear appears in the throne room, surrounded by his daughters, the Dukes of Albany and Cornwall, and a large retinue. He orders the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy to be summoned.
Wanting to shift the “yoke of worries” from the shoulders of the elderly to the young, he asks each of his daughters the question - how strong is their daughter’s love? Goneril, the eldest of the daughters, the wife of the Duke of Albany, eloquently assures her father that he is “more valuable than wealth and all the treasures of the world,” for which she receives a substantial share of her father’s wealth.
The second daughter, Regan, the wife of the Duke of Cornwall, hastens to convince her father that she is “of the same breed” as Goneril, and does not know “other joys” except love for him. As a reward for such selfless love, Regan receives no less than a share of the inheritance.
Cordelia, whose favor the Duke of Burgundy and the King of France are seeking, admits that she does not have the eloquence of her sisters, but loves her father “as duty dictates, no more and no less.” The girl wonders how she can get married if she gives all her love to her father. She intends to give “a piece of tenderness, care and love” to her chosen one.
Hearing such an answer, King Lear is indignant and in anger renounces Cordelia, and transfers her share of the inheritance to his older sisters. The Earl of Kent tries to reason with him, but thereby transfers the royal wrath onto his own head: Lear orders him to leave the court within five days, otherwise he will be executed for treason.
The Duke of Burgundy refuses to take Cordelia as his wife, “who has fallen from grace, with a curse as a gift.” The King of France, in turn, is surprised that a pure and sincere girl, devoid of hypocrisy, finds herself in disgrace with her own priest, who loved her so much until that day. He admires Cordelia's spiritual qualities, and with great joy makes her his queen.
Cordelia and her husband leave the court, and King Lear voices his intention to live alternately with his daughters for one month at a time. Goneril and Regan notice that their father has acquired “the quirks associated with decrepit and eccentric old age.” In order to keep their inheritance in their hands, they intend to weaken their father’s power at court.
Scene 2
In the castle of the Earl of Gloucester, his natural son Edmund discusses his right to his father's inheritance. In order to become the only legitimate heir, he is ready to go to any baseness and eliminate his rival in the person of the legitimate count's son Edgar.
When his father appears, Edmund draws his attention to a letter in which Edgar persuades him to plot against the count in order to seize power and his wealth. The young man easily manages to turn his father against his own son.
Scene 3
From her butler, Goneril learns that her father hit her “close associate because he reprimanded his jester.” She is angry that her father, who was visiting her house, “every hour, starts a new trick” and endlessly “grumbles over trifles.” She orders Oswald and the other servants to remain cold and not serve as diligently as usual. And if the father doesn’t like it, “let him go to his sister.”
Scene 4
Kent changes his clothes, changes his manner of communication, his voice, and is hired by Lear as a servant. Oswald shows disrespect towards the king, and even his jester does not want to deal with the owner, who, like the last fool, “expelled two of his daughters, and blessed the third without meaning to.”
Goneril complains to her father about his retinue - “dissolute and wild little ones” who “with dissipation turned her yard into some kind of tavern.” She asks the king to dismiss most of his retinue, to which the angry Lear curses her with sterility and decides to go to Regan. Goneril also does not hesitate and sends a messenger to her sister with a letter.
Scene 5
King Lear sends Kent to Regan with a letter, while his jester has no doubt that the second daughter will behave with him in the same way as the first - “one is like the other, like a wild apple is like a wild apple.”
Act II
Scene 1
From a courtier, Edmund learns about the imminent arrival of the Duke of Cornwall and his wife and a possible war between him and the Duke of Albany.
Edmund understands that everything is working out in his favor and he just needs to “not miss the opportunity” to strengthen his position. He makes it clear to Edgar that he should run further away in order to hide from his father’s wrath, which he somehow brought upon himself.
Edgar does not understand what he did wrong to his father, but decides to listen to his brother and goes into hiding. Edmund inflicts a shallow wound on himself and tells the count that he bravely defended him from Edgar, who decided to kill his father. Enraged by his son's betrayal, Gloucester sends a chase after him.
The Duke of Cornwall and his wife Regan come to the count. She sympathizes with Gloucester and says that she decided to leave her castle, just so as not to meet her father, who intends to stay with her.
Scene 2
Upon meeting Oswald, Kent insults him, calling him "a cross between a rogue, a beggar, a coward and a pimp" and draws his sword. Servants come running at the noise, and Cornwall, having found out the cause of the feud, orders Kent to be shackled until the morning. Gloucester tries to stand up for the king’s servant, reminding him that such “punishment is applicable only to the lowest mob.” However, the Duke of Cornwall is unshakable in his decision to teach the bully a lesson.
Scene 3
Edgar manages to hide from pursuit “in a hollow tree.” Realizing that if he is caught, a terrible punishment awaits him, he decides to change his appearance and appear in the guise of a crazy tramp.
Scene 4
Upon entering Gloucester Castle, King Lear notices Kent chained in stocks, who tells him about the escape of Regan and his son-in-law, who did not want to receive the king and his retinue in their castle. Lear refuses to believe this, believing that such behavior is “worse than murder - to neglect respect.”
When he meets Regan, the king begins to complain to her about his sister, but she urgently asks him to “return immediately, admitting his guilt” to Goneril.
Meanwhile, Goneril herself appears in the castle, and Regan insists that Lear dismiss a good half of his numerous retinue and return to his eldest daughter. She explains her persistence by the fact that her castle can freely accommodate only twenty-five retinue people, and no more.
The sisters come to the conclusion that their father does not need “twenty-five or even ten, five” servants - he would be quite satisfied with the servants of Goneril or Regan.
Meanwhile, a storm is approaching, and King Lear leaves his daughters, promising to take cruel revenge on them for their meanness.
Act III
Scene 1
The distraught king fights "with the raging elements." Kent tells the courtier an “important secret” - France intends to conquer the state, weakened by ducal disputes. He asks him to go to Dover to report “about the wild and most deplorable fate that has befallen the king.”
Scene 2
Lear stands in the middle of the steppe and calls thunder and lightning on his head. The Jester and Kent ask the king to return to his daughters in the castle or, at worst, to take refuge from the weather in a hut.
Scene 3
Gloucester tells Edmund about the king's meeting and admits that he does not like such “inhuman treatment” at all. He asks his son to distract the attention of the dukes in order to help the unfortunate Lear himself.
In turn, Edmund decides to hand over the count in order to curry favor with his master and clear his way to the inheritance.
Scene 4
King Lear does not pay attention to Kent's entreaties to hide from bad weather in a hut. He wants to be left alone with the storm, which “prevents us from thinking about the worst evil.”
In the hut, the jester finds Edgar posing as crazy Tom. He says that he used to be a rake who lived only for pleasure. Edgar's words delight Lear, who is confident that a real man, a philosopher, is standing before him.
Scene 5
Edmund provides Cornwall with a letter, from which it becomes clear that his father “delivered the necessary information to the French.” The Duke of Cornwall thanks the young man for his loyalty. He orders the arrest of the old Earl of Gloucester, and invites Edmund to take his place.
Scene 6
Gloucester asks Kent to take the distraught king to Dover, as he has "heard that they want to kill him."
Scene 7
Cornwall orders Edmund to take Goneril to his husband and deliver a letter to the Duke of Albany, in which he asks him to immediately arm himself in case of an attack by French troops.
Osvad tells about the betrayal of Gloucester, thanks to which the king managed to hide in Dover. Angered by his subject's disobedience, the Duke of Cornwall blinds him. His servant comes to the count's defense, but he is killed by Regan. From her, Gloucester learns that Edmund turned out to be a traitor, and Edgar is innocent of anything.
Act IV
Scene 1
Gloucester, led by the old man, complains about fate: “We are to the gods what flies are to boys: tormenting us is fun for them.” He meets Edagar and, not knowing who he is, mistakes him for a crazy beggar. Gloucester asks to be his guide and take him to a large cliff.
Scene 2
Approaching the palace, Goneril is surprised that her husband does not meet her. Oswald responds that the Duke is "at home, but terribly changed." Goneril orders Edmund to return to Cornwall and lead the troops.
The Duke of Albany reproaches his wife for driving her “father, blessed for years,” to madness. In response, Goneril insults her husband, who with great difficulty restrains himself so as not to tear her to pieces.
A servant enters and reports the death of Cornwall - “killed by a servant while he was tearing out Gloucester’s eyes.” The Duke of Albania promises to avenge the dishonor of Gloucester and King Lear.
Scene 3
In the French camp near Dover, Kent learns that the king was forced to leave the army and go to the palace to eliminate “disorders in the state.” He entrusted the command of the army to the marshal, Mr. Lafar.
Kent also learns that the queen received a letter about the meanness of her sisters and the sad fate of her father.
Scene 4
Cordelia sends for her father. She is ready to pay any price to "regain his lost sanity." To which the doctor states that for this it is necessary to provide the patient with “peace sent by nature” and take medicinal herbs.
A messenger enters and reports the advance of British troops.
Scene 5
Regan asks Oswald to open the letter that his sister gave to Edmund. She noticed Goneril's interest in the young man, with whom Regan had already managed to get married after the death of her husband.
She also tells Oswald that there is a good reward for the “blind traitor,” and he promises to eliminate Gloucester.
Scene 6
Edgar, wanting to cure his father's despair, allows him to make an imaginary jump from a cliff. As a result, Gloucester repents of his desire to commit suicide. They meet Lear, who is talking complete nonsense.
Oswald tries to kill the defenseless Gloucester, but Edgar comes to his defense and kills the traitor. Before his death, Oswald asks Edgar to take the money and deliver the letter to "Edmund, Earl of Gloucester". From the letter, Edgar learns that Goneril asks Edmund to kill his husband and take his place.
Scene 7
King Lear gradually regains his sanity, and he begins to recognize those around him. Kent discusses the upcoming fight.
Act V
Scene 1
Regan tries to extort from Edmund his attitude towards his sister, to which he replies that he never had any plans for Goneril. Edgar, in disguise, manages to give the Duke of Albany a letter written by his wife Edmund.
Meanwhile, Edmund ponders which of the sisters to prefer, and comes to the conclusion that “there is no happiness while both are alive.”
Scene 2
British troops are victorious. Lear and Cordelia are captured.
Scene 3
Edmund feels like a winner. He orders the king and his daughter to be taken to prison, and also hands the officer a letter with further instructions regarding the prisoners, making it clear that “the order must be carried out without hesitation.” When asked by the Duke of Albany to decide the fate of the prisoners himself, Edmund refuses.
Regan and Goneril begin to argue about their rights to Edmund, whom the Duke of Albany accuses of high treason. Meanwhile, Regan is getting worse - she is poisoned by her own sister.
To justify his own honor, Edmund is forced to agree to battle with the enemy. It turns out to be brother Edgar, who throws insulting words at him: “You are a traitor, a liar before the gods, brother and father, and you are a conspirator against the duke.” Edgar manages to win and publicly reveals his name.
The servant reports that Goneril stabbed herself with a knife. Before he dies, Edmund talks about his order to "take the lives of Cordelia and Lear." Edgar fails to save Cordelia from death, King Lear dies of grief.
The Duke of Albany announces mourning.
Conclusion
In his work, William Shakespeare raises the problem of the nobility of the human soul. Not all the characters in the play are able to pass the test of power and wealth, which leads to grave tragic consequences.
After reading the brief retelling of King Lear, we recommend reading Shakespeare's play in its entirety.
Play test
Check your memorization of the summary content with the test:
Retelling rating
Average rating: 4.7. Total ratings received: 88.
- In contact with 0
- Google+ 0
- OK 0
- Facebook 0
