The Earl of Kent returns under disguise from his exile under the name of Caius and is hired by King Lear as a servant. Goneril and Regan profess to have believed their father to be a silly old man and that their declarations of love were contrived. He has reserved to himself a retinue of 100 people, a group of nobles and servants, that will stay Lear makes it clear to his daughters that he will divide time between their two residences. Gloucester has introduced his other illegitimate son to the Earl of Kent. This also infuriates King Lear and he speaks his mind, earning him abuse from King Lear.

The Earl of Kent also observes thatĬordelia has been treated unfairly and objects to the King's reasoning. It is observed that King Lear, by dividing his wealth between just two daughters has also given shares of his realm to their husbands, Goneril's Duke of Albany and Regan's Duke of Cornwall.Ĭordelia is the only sister that remains unmarried, though there are two suitors present vying for her hand, the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy. Infuriated and disinherits Cordelia, dividing the share that would be hers among Regan and Goneril. She at first refuses to say anything, and then when prodded speaks honestly and tells him she does not have words to express her love.

Herself to lie to her father in the same way. Cordelia was always Lear's favorite and most-loved daughter, she herself is unable to bring His youngest daughter Cordelia sees the false flattery her two sisters have heaped upon her father. Not wishing to be outdone, his second daughter Regan uses similarly flowery and language to convince her father of her adoration. Goneril her share as soon as she is finished speaking. His eldest daughter, Goneril, first proclaims her love in the most fulsome description, delighting Lear and causing him to award Give the largest share to the daughter who loves him the most. Courting flattery and praise, he announces he'll King Lear, wanting to retire from the duties the monarchy demands of him, makes the decision to divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters. Shakespeare's King Lear brilliantly depicts the senility and increasing madness of its title character as he splits his kingdom into portions for his daughters' based on their It was believed to have been written between 1605-1606, and was based on a legend of the Leir of Britain, a pre-Roman Celtic King Lear is one of William Shakespeare's most famous tragedies.

King Lear by William Shakespeare