Story: Scene-by-scene summary

1.1 Gloucester introduces his bastard son Edmund to Kent. Goneril & Regan speak their love to get land, but Lear disinherits Cordelia when she won't flatter him, banishes Kent for opposing him. Burgundy withdraws his offer of marriage to Cordelia, but France marries her without dowry. Goneril & Regan plot against Lear.

1.2 Edmund's bastardy causes him to set Gloucester against Edgar with a forged letter and lies. He tells Edgar to arm himself and avoid their father.

1.3 Goneril bemoans household trouble caused by Lear and his men and orders Oswald not to be so gracious toward them.

1.4 Kent, disguised, offers to serve Lear, who begins, through Goneril's behavior (that is, a request to cut the number of his followers), to see the consequences of his rash decision. The Fool states the situation. Albany tries unsuccessfully to mediate. Lear curses Goneril and leaves to stay with Regan, whom Goneril writes to, with Oswald as her messenger.

1.5 Travelling with the Fool, Lear sends Kent ahead with a letter to Regan, fears he is going mad.

2.1 At Gloucester's castle, Edmund fakes a fight with Edgar leading to his flight and Gloucester's outlawing him. Cornwall and Regan have come to Gloucester's to avoid seeing Lear when he arrives at their place.

2.2 Cornwall puts Kent in the stocks for fighting with Oswald. Kent reads a letter from Cordelia.

2.3 The outlawed Edgar disguises himself as a Bedlam beggar to save his life.

2.4 Lear confronts Regan and Cornwall. Kent is freed. Regan supports Goneril when she arrives, saying he must cut the number of his men even more. The enraged Lear goes off into a storm with the Fool and Kent.

3.1 A Gentleman reports that Lear wanders, enraged, in the storm. Kent reports that Cordelia has landed with a French force.

3.2 Lears argues with the elements and the gods in the storm and agrees to come in only to give shelter to the Fool.

3.3 Gloucester, having heard of division between Albany and Cornwall and of Cordelia's invasion, decides to help the king secretly. Edmund decides to betray his father to Cornwall to gain his place as Duke of Gloucester.

3.4 Along with the Fool and Caius (the disguised Kent), Lear meets Edgar disguised as Tom o' Bedlam; Gloucester leads Lear to shelter.

3.5 Edmund betrays his father to Cornwall and is rewarded.

3.6 The mad king puts Goneril and Regan on trial with the Fool, a madman and a servant as the judges. Gloucester tells them to flee to Dover.

3.7 Regan and Cornwall question Gloucester, blind him. A servant of Cornwall tries to defend Gloucester and wounds Cornwall fatally before Regan kills the rebel servant.

4.1 The blind Gloucester now realizes Edgar was also betrayed by Edmund. Helped by an old tenant, Gloucester finds Tom o'Bedlam and asks him to lead him to Dover.

4.2 Goneril makes a pass at Edmund, has a showdown with Albany who despises her behavior and learns of Cornwall's death. Goneril becomes jealous over Edmund; Albany seeks old Gloucester to help him.

4.3 Kent in Dover learns that the King of France has left, that Cordelia and the troops remain to help Lear, but the old king is too ashamed to face her.

4.4 Cordelia says she is in England not for ambition but to help her father.

4.5 Regan asks Oswald to see Goneril's letter to Edmund and asks to add one from her. As Oswald seeks Edmund, Regan promises reward if he kills the blind Gloucester.

4.6 Edgar saves Gloucester from suicide at Dover and schools him to patience. Edgar and Gloucester meet the mad Lear. Edgar kills Oswald as he attacks Gloucester and therefore gets Goneril's letter which he will give to Albany.

4.7 Lear wakes to Cordelia's love and recovers.

5.1 Just before the battle, the sisters argue over Edmund. Edgar delivers the letter to Albany. Edmund intends to kill Lear and Cordelia before Albany can pardon them.

5.2 Edgar reports to Gloucester that Cordelia has been defeated.

5.3 Lear is happy with Cordelia, though a prisoner. Edmund secretly sends the captain to murder Lear and Cordelia. Albany confronts his wife with her letter and Edgar (in disguise) fights to prove Edmund a traitor and fatally wounds him. Edgar reveals himself , reports Gloucester's death and Kent's illness. Goneril commits suicide after poisoning her rival Regan. Edmund --too late-- tells of the plot against Lear and Cordelia, and dies. Lear carries in the dead Cordelia and dies.