Cast of Characters King Lear King of Britain Gloucester Father of Edgar and Edmund Goneril Lear's eldest daughter Edgar Gloucester's legitimate son Regan Lear's second eldest daughter Edmund Gloucester's illegitimate son Cordelia Lear's youngest daughter Kent Earl of Kent Albany Duke of Albany Goneril's husband Fool King Lear's court jester Cornwall Duke of Cornwall Regan's husband Oswald Goneril's servant France King of France Cordelia's husband Gentleman An attendant to Kent and Edgar
Our Setting 535 King Lear takes place in England on the islands of Great Britain before Christianity was established there However Shakespeare does not give exact locations for King Lear Lear's palace or a battlefield are settings but it does not say where these places are Little is known of the prehistoric era of England but farming and weapons have been found dating back to 1200 BC In 55 BC Julius Caesar invaded Britain For the next 20 years Roman civilization spread throughout the area By AD 98 towns were established including Gloucester and York These towns are mentioned in Shakespeare's King Lear though they are not noted as settings Roman and Celtic traditions were followed in England until Christianity arrived in 446 The traditions and government changed significantly after Christianity arrived SUPERGER
Act 1 King Lear gathers his daughters TELL ME MY DAUGHTERS WHICH OF YOU SHALL WE SAY DOTH LOVE US MOST KNOW THAT WE HAVE DIVIDED IN THREE OUR KINGDOM TO SHAKE ALL CARES AND BUSINESS FROM OUR AGE CONFERRING THEM ON YOUNGER STRENGTHS WHILE WE LINBURDENED CRAWL TOWARD DEATH SIR I LOVE YOU MORE THAN WORD CAN WIELD THE MATTER IN MY TRUE HEART I FIND SHE NAMES MY VERY DEED OF LOVE ONLY SHE COMES TOO SHORT AND I FIND I AM ALONE FELICITATE IN YOUR DEAR HIGHNESS LOVE NOW OUR JOY WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO DRAW A THIRD MORE OPULENT THAN YOUR SISTERS LET IT BE SO THY TRUTH THEN BY THY DOWER HERE I DISCLAIM ALL MY PATERNAL CARE CORO UNHAPPY THAT I AM I CANNOT HEAVE MY HEART INTO MY MOUTH CORNWALL AND ALBANY WITH MY TWO DAUGHTERS DOWERS DIGEST THIS THIRD Kent protests ROYAL LEAR WHOM I HAVE EVER LOVED AS MY KING THY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER DOES NOT LOVE THEE LEAST I LOVE YOUR MAJESTY ACCORDING TO MY BOND NO MORE NO LESS AVI no 100
King Lear banishes Kent HERE'S FRANCE MY NOBLE LORD FAIREST CORDELIA THAT ART MOST RICH BEING POOR BID THEM FAREWELL THOUGH UNKIND 000 TAKE THY REWARD TURN THY HATED BACK UPON OUR KINGDOM WHY FARE THEE WELL KING FREEDOM LIVES HENCE AND BANISHMENT IS HERE VT THOU HAST HER FRANCE LET HER BE THINE FOR WE HAVE NO SUCH DAUGHTER NOR SHALL EVER SEE THAT FÁCE OF HERS AGAIN After all others exit France Cordelia Goneril and Regan remain COME MY FAIR CORDELIA I KNOW YOU WHAT YOU ARE AND LIKE A SISTER AM MOST LOATH TO CALL YOUR FAULTS AS THEY ARE NAMED LOVE WELL OUR FATHER PRAY YOU LET US HIT TOGETHER IF OUR FATHER CARRY AUTHORITY WITH SUCH DISPOSITION AS HE BEARS THIS LAST SURRENDER OF HIS WILL BUT OFFEND US WE SHALL FURTHER THINK OF IT
