Lines 194–281: Lear explains to the King of France and Duke of Burgundy that Cordelia’s “price is fallen.” She is no longer “dear” to him, a word that highlights his belief that love is quantifiable. Burgundy cannot decide, so Lear offers his daughter to France but says he would not want him to marry a “wretch” that “Nature is ashamed” of. France asks what Cordelia’s “monstrous” offense is and she asks Lear to make it clear that it is lack of the “glib and oily art” of false speech. Burgundy says that he will take her with her original dowry. Echoing Cordelia, Lear declares that this is “Nothing,” so Burgundy declines. France sees Cordelia’s virtues and comments that “unprized precious” Cordelia is “most rich, being poor,” highlighting France and Lear’s differing perceptions of “worth,” and challenging Lear’s assertion that “Nothing will come of nothing.”
Lines 282–299: Leaving with France, Cordelia says goodbye “with washèd eyes,” suggesting tears but also clear perception of her sisters’ characters.
Lines 300–323: Goneril and Regan discuss Lear’s “poor judgement” and the “changes” and “infirmity” of his old age, but Regan observes that “he hath ever but slenderly known himself.” Goneril expresses concern about Lear’s desire for authority. Regan agrees that they must “think” about this, but Goneril says that they “must do something,” highlighting a subtle difference between them.
ACT 1 SCENE 2
Lines 1–22: Edmund is angry that he will not inherit. He protests about the label “base” and argues that he is as good as “honest madam’s issue”—better, even, because there was passion in his conception. He reveals his designs on Edgar’s inheritance.
Lines 23–107: Edmund conceals a letter from Gloucester in a way that draws attention to it. He tells Gloucester it is “Nothing,” but then pretends that it is from Edgar. Gloucester reads its contents, which suggest that Edgar and Edmund should murder Gloucester and split the inheritance. Edmund manipulates Gloucester, who is easily persuaded that Edgar is an “unnatural” villain. Edmund pretends to plead on Edgar’s behalf and arranges that Gloucester will overhear a conversation between them. Gloucester exits, blaming all the problems in family and state on “These late eclipses in the sun and moon.”
Lines 108–161: Edmund is scornful of those who believe that destiny is decided by the stars and blame their “evil” on “a divine thrusting on,” thus raising a debate between free will and fate, as he claims that the stars have no influence on his personality or fortune. Edgar interrupts and Edmund changes behavior on “cue,” suggesting his directorial role in the action. He persuades Edgar that Gloucester is angry with him and suggests that they avoid meeting. Giving Edgar the key to his lodging, he promises to help.
ACT 1 SCENE 3
Goneril and her steward Oswald discuss Lear’s irrational temper. She gives instructions to say that she is ill and cannot see Lear and that the servants are to ignore him.
ACT 1 SCENE 4
Lines 1–89: Kent is disguised, but while his appearance has changed, his nature has not—he is still an “honest-hearted fellow.” Not recognizing him, Lear employs Kent and asks Oswald for Goneril, but is ignored. One of Lear’s knights says that Oswald refuses to come back, that Goneril is unwell, and points out that Lear has been neglected recently. When Oswald reappears, he is disrespectful and Lear loses his temper. Kent trips Oswald up and insults him, earning Lear’s thanks.
Lines 90–174: Lear’s Fool delivers a series of jokes, riddles, nonsense, and rhymes. These have comic effect, but they are also ambiguous, providing perceptive comment on Lear’s circumstances and reinforcing some key themes such as cruelty, division, and folly. In the Quarto text, Kent comments that “This is not altogether fool my lord.”
Lines 175–297: Goneril lists her grievances. Lear’s temper and language become wilder, suggesting the growing disquiet of his mind. The interjections of the Fool, combining nonsense and wisdom, contribute to the growing disorder. Albany ineffectually attempts to calm Lear, who curses Goneril with either sterility or the future birth of a “child of spleen.” He leaves. Goneril ignores Albany, showing where the power lies in their relationship. Lear returns, having discovered that Goneril has reduced his train of knights by fifty. Despite uncontrollable anger, his tears suggest weakness. He decides to go to Regan, saying she will “flay” Goneril’s “wolfish visage”—an example of the animal imagery associated with the two sisters.
Lines 298–325: Goneril claims it is unwise to allow Lear to enforce the whims of his old age, and calls Oswald to take a letter to Regan. She criticizes Albany for his “milky gentleness.”
ACT 1 SCENE 5
Lear sends letters to Gloucester with Kent, then struggles against madness as he talks to his Fool.
ACT 2 SCENE 1
Lines 1–91: Edmund urges Edgar to escape, suggesting that Cornwall believes Edgar is plotting against him, and that Gloucester is in pursuit. Edmund directs Edgar’s flight, pretending that he is helping, but convincing Gloucester’s party that he is trying to stop him. He wounds his own arm and tells Gloucester that Edgar stabbed him when he refused to help Edgar. Gloucester tells “Loyal and natural” Edmund that he will make him his heir.
Lines 92–140: Gloucester confirms Cornwall and Regan’s queries about Edgar. Cornwall praises Edmund, takes him into his service, then begins to explain their arrival. Regan interrupts, showing her dominance, and claims that she wanted Gloucester’s advice on letters from Lear and Goneril.
ACT 2 SCENE 2
Lines 1–144: Outside Gloucester’s castle, Oswald claims not to know the disguised Kent, who insults and beats him. While Cornwall attempts to establish how the quarrel started, Kent continues to insult Oswald, who explains that Kent (who calls himself “Caius”) is in Lear’s service. Cornwall comments on Kent’s plain-spoken nature, but ironically assumes that his “plainness / Harbour[s] more craft and more corrupter ends” and places him in the stocks. In the Quarto text, Gloucester argues stocks are for “basest and “temnest wretches” and it is insulting to Lear to punish his messenger in them.
Lines 145–166: Gloucester apologizes and says that he will plead for Kent’s release, but Kent says not to. Kent’s soliloquy reveals that he has a letter from Cordelia.
Lines 167–187: Edgar intends to disguise himself as a mad beggar from Bedlam. Edgar’s soliloquy and the following sequence are sometimes edited and played as separate scenes, but the action continues uninterrupted in that Kent remains onstage asleep in the stocks.
Lines 188–271: Lear will not believe that Regan and Cornwall have put Kent in the stocks—it is an “outrage” “upon respect.” Fighting his rising anger, Lear goes to confront them. The Fool comments on Kent’s folly in continuing to serve Lear.
Lines 272–383: Enraged that Regan and Cornwall will not speak with him, Lear sends Gloucester to summon them. His language reflects his growing disturbance, which he fights to suppress—“my rising heart! But, down!” When they arrive, Lear pours out his grievances against Goneril. Regan responds in a reasoned but insulting manner, saying that Lear is old and needs to be “ruled and led,” and suggests that he ask Goneril’s forgiveness. Lear’s pride and anger rise, but he thinks Regan will acknowledge the “dues of gratitude” that he has bought with “half o’th’kingdom.”
Lines 384–515: Goneril and Regan unite against Lear, gradually reducing his number of knights—a symbol of his power—until he has nothing. He reminds them of what they owe him—“I gave you all.” When Regan asks whether Lear needs even one follower, he replies “O, reason not the need! Our basest beggars / Are in the poorest thing superfluous: / Allow not nature more than nature needs, / Man’s life is cheap as beast’s.” The encounter of king and beggar, the question of “superfluity,” and the stripping down from courtly accoutrements to raw nature are at the core of the play. Lear asks the heavens for patience, but the growing storm reflects his turbulent mind and he leaves in “high rage” to go out onto the heath. Goneril, Regan, and Cornwall tell Gloucester to shut his doors against Lear and the storm.