Act I, Scene I
Kent, Gloucester and Edmund enter. The two elder men are discussing how the King intends to separate his kingdom. Kent then goes on to ask Gloucester if Edmund is his son. Gloucester confides in Kent that Edmund is his son, explaining that he is illegitimate and he has been hidden from the world for nine years and will be hidden away again. Gloucester explains that Edmund's mother was "fair" and that "there was good sport at his making", setting the old nobleman up as something of a rogue.
King Lear, his daughters, their husbands and his court entourage enter. Lear asks for a map to illustrate how he intends to divide his kingdom. Her refers to this process somewhat ambiguously as "our darker purpose" implying from the outset that there is something amiss in it. It is revealed that Cordelia is about to choose either the King of France or the Duke of Burgandy as a husband. Lear, who is ageing, must now divide his kingdom between his daughters, therefore giving them to "younger strengths". However, we are made suspicious of how seriously he is taking the act as he asks, quite seriously, "Which of you shall we say doth love us most?" He turns the contest for land into an exercise in hyperbolic flattery.
Goneril speaks first, followed by Regan: both making elaborate and over-effusive statements of love. Goneril states that she has a "love that makes breath poor and speech unable" (an assertion tinged with irony given how loquacious she is being). Regan ups the ante with more absurdly high praise leaving Cordelia, the youngest and most beloved daughter to tell us in an aside that "I am sure my love's / More richer than my tongue". She gives the only response that an honest girl can give when asked for praise "more opulent" still than that of her sisters: "Nothing". Lear retorts sternly, "Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again". She refuses ("I cannot / My heart into my mouth") and is threatened by Lear. She finally admits that she loves him as much as a daughter should love her father. Lear is hugely angered by this and disowns Cordelia, swearing that she shall never have a share of the kingdom or any kind of dowry ("thy truth then be thy dower").
Despite Kent's attempts to intervene on Cordelia's behalf, Lear maintains that Cordelia's portion of the country will be apportioned to her two sisters who will share the government equally. He will only keep one hundred men and "the name" of King and reside with his elder daughters on alternate months. It is quite apparent from this that the king is in no way ready to give up the kingdom and that this is merely a game to prove his worth in advancing age.
Again Kent interferes on behalf of good logic. His voice is heard above the raging Lear informing the king that "duty shall have dread to speak / When power to flattery bows… majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom". Kent asserts further that Lear is "mad", and tells him to "see better" (morbid premonitions given the play's later themes of blindness and insanity) and that Cordelia is the most sincere of the three sisters. Lear is greatly angered and banishes Kent from his kingdom: he has ten days leave before he will be killed if he is found. It should be noted now that Lear has banished his favourite daughter and his best servant because he did not like to hear of his own foolishness.
The King of France and the Duke of Albany are brought back in and Lear explains to them that Cordelia no longer has a dowry. Burgandy immediately withdraws his offer of marriage, whereas France shows more interest, asking why her dowry has been withdrawn considering previously she was Lear's favourite. On finding out he states that he loves her all the more and will take her as his queen.
Cordelia leaves, indicating to her sisters that she knows their intentions ("I know you what you are") and that they must look after her father well. Goneril states that it is not her place to talk of duty to their father. Goneril and Regan end the scene showing their awareness that their father may become bad tempered and hard to handle and that they should join forces in order to combat this.
Act I, Scene II
We are introduced to Edmund properly here. Alone, it is apparent what a resentful twisted character he is. He believes that although he is a bastard he is the better of the two bastards: more energetic and a more balanced person. He shows us a letter that he believes will help him overthrow his brother and gain his land. He cuts a strangely appealing figure with his witty wordplay on "base" and his humorous closing remark, "Now, gods, stand up for bastards!" Gloucester enters the stage and sees the letter. He questions Edmund on its contents and his son makes a show of hiding and claiming that it is nothing thus arousing Gloucester's curiosity all the more. Eventually he persuades a supposedly reluctant Edmund to show him the letter that he claims is from his brother. Edmund has forged the letter, which invites him to discuss with his elder brother the fact that they will only inherit from their father when they are too old to enjoy their inheritance. There is also a promise of half of Gloucester's income if he should happen to die.
A parallel is drawn between Gloucester's relationship with his sons and Lear's with his daughters. He immediately takes the letter as real and rails against his elder son calling him an "unnatural detested brutish villain." Edmund suggests that his father hides whilst he meets with his brother so they can understand his intentions and ascertain if there has been a misunderstanding. Gloucester is disturbed by his situation and the one that he has just witnessed between Lear, his daughters and Kent. He believes that the "natural" order of the world is crumbling due to eclipses of the sun and moon and he is uncertain and uneasy about what the future holds for him. The break down of "nature" (and note that the word appears frequently throughout the play as a mantra, almost) and family bonds is in Gloucester's mind the sign of the onset of chaos.
After his father leaves Edmund is hugely derisive about his faith in the supernatural and power of the stars. He is unimpressed by the fact that his father is unable to take responsibility for his own actions. Edgar arrives and Edmund shows deep concern for him and the fact that his father is so deeply offended by him. He persuades his brother to come to his room armed so that they can work out how to placate their father.
Act I, Scene III
We now shift to Goneril and the Duke of Albany's residence where Goneril is complaining to her steward Oswald about the behaviour of her father and his knights. She decides that she will not speak to her father when he returns from hunting and that Oswald must not serve him in a way in which he would be used to. She refers to him as an old fool.
Act I, Scene IV
Kent appears in disguise so that he is able to help Lear whilst the king still thinks he is banished. On Lear's return Kent asks him if he can serve him and his offer is accepted. The king calls for his dinner and his fool. Oswald ignores his request and Lear is confused about why Goneril's servants are being so unkind to him. When Oswald comes back and the Lear asks him "Who am I, sir?" the steward answers impertinently: "My Lady's father". This immediately undermines Lear, ignoring the fact that he is the king and making him all the more dependent on his daughter.
We are introduced to the Fool who praises Kent for his support of a king who is so out of favour, he mocks Lear who he calls a fool for giving away his kingdom. The fool, it is clear, has an unusual power over Lear because he can say things that others cannot (as Kent has already proved). This would indeed have been the place of the fool in court, and this Fool along with Twelfth Night's Feste is endowed with remarkable knowledge as if he is a Chorus within the play's action. He reminds Lear that, "Truth's a dog must to kennel", or in other words Lear cannot accept the truth of his diminished position. Kent remarks later in the scene that, "This is not altogether fool, my lord".
Goneril enters, angry at the behaviour and multitude of Lear's men. She speaks harshly to her father who is shocked by this and asks again who he is - he is searching for an affirmation of his identity. Goneril tells Lear that he must reduce his retinue or she will. This infuriates Lear who calls her a "Degenerate bastard" and says that he will go and stay with his other daughter. Notice again that Lear is alienating everyone in his desperation to be respected.
He wishes sterility on Goneril or at least an unloving child so that she may feel the pain that he is enduring. His words, though, are grandiloquent, fierce and show prolepsis: "Old fond eyes, / Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck ye out… I'll resume the shape which thou dost think / I have cast off for ever". When Lear leaves, Albany suggests to his wife that she has been too harsh on her father. She maintains that his retinue must be reduced so that he can cause no threat to her. She sends Oswald to her sister with a letter explaining her actions and asking for her support.
Act I, Scene V
Lear sends Kent ahead to Regan with a letter explaining is predicament, he is warned by the Fool that Regan will probably behave in the same way as her sister. It is a turning point of sorts because Lear exclaims to the fool, his confidante, "I did her wrong": presumably realising his idiocy in disowning the daughter he loved best. The Fool chides the King for becoming old without gaining wisdom and it seems that Lear also is beginning to understand the inevitable result of his regal foolishness: "O! let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven; / Keep me in temper; I would not be mad!"
Act II, Scene I
Edmund is warned that the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall are to visit the Earl of Gloucester and there is a potential of war between the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany. On reaching Edgar, Edmund warns him that his father is watching his rooms and he should save himself if possible. Edmund manages to persuade his brother to have a mock fight with him before he flees. After Edgar has gone Edmund wounds himself with his own sword and then calls for his father's help.
When Gloucester comes to his son's aid Edmund lies to his father, telling him that Edgar planned to kill his father in order to inherit his land and attempted to persuade Edmund to join him in his plan. On his refusal Edmund claims that his brother wounded him with his sword. Again Gloucester is taken in by his son's lies, calling him (with considerable irony) "Loyal and natural boy". He decides that he will enlist the help of the Duke of Cornwall to track down his son, try him and execute him. In order to protect himself Edmund states that Edgar threatened that he would deny any knowledge of the plan and that no-one will believe him because he is a bastard. Gloucester reassures his son that he believes him and that he will arrange for his illegitimate son to be the heir to his estate.
Regan and Cornwall arrive, surprised at Edmund's news. Regan has been informed of her father's behaviour and was warned that she should be absent when he comes to stay, hence her visit to Gloucester. Cornwall praises Edmund for loyalty to his father and saying that he needs trustworthy men, asks Edmund to join his service. It is apparent that unlike Albany, Cornwall is very much of the devil's party with the evil sisters and Edmund. The "service" offered by Edmund to Cornwall is in stark contrast to the selfless bond offered Lear by Kent.
Act II, Scene II
Kent crosses paths with Oswald before Gloucester's castle and Oswald is confused by the barrage of insults he receives from Kent (illustrating well Shakespeare's use of invectives). Oswald does not remember having met Kent with Lear in Goneril's lodgings. He draws his sword and is beating Oswald, showing his serious loyalty to the King when they are interrupted by Cornwall, Regan, Gloucester and Edmund who arrive to save Oswald after they hear his cries for help.
Cornwall questions why the dispute has taken place and Oswald protests his innocence - stating he refrained from fighting due to Kent's age. Kent insults Oswald further and humiliates Cornwall with his forceful speeches. Cornwall orders him to be put in the stocks his resolve strengthened when Kent asserts that he serves the King. The events worry Gloucester who does not want to offend Lear.
Act II, Scene III
Edgar delivers a soliloquy, alone on stage, whilst hidden in a tree he overheard that he was a wanted man and there is nowhere safe left in the kingdom. As a result he decides to disguise himself as a mad beggar, as the famous "poor Tom" of Bedlam, and covers himself in dirt and grime. He entirely rejects his former self: "Edgar I nothing am". Like Kent before him and Lear soon afterwards he has transformed himself in order to escape the chaos of the new order.
Act II, Scene IV
Lear and the Fool find Kent in the stocks and Lear seems determined to ignore the fact that it was his daughter and son-in-law who imprisoned his servant. At this point Lear draws attention to the fact he believes he has brought up his daughters as a mother and a father:
O! how this mother swells up towards my heart;
Hysterica passio! Down, thou climbing sorrow!
Thy element's below. Where is this daughter?
"Mother" and "Hysterica passio" were names given to hysteria that would spread from the pit of the stomach affecting different parts of the body as it swelled up. He sees his daughters as part of himself and as they turn against him part of himself is rebelling too.
Lear leaves to search for Regan but is told that she and Cornwall are too tired to meet him. He returns hurt and angry and sends Gloucester to get them. When Regan arrives he explains to her how Goneril has behaved, cursing her for turning him out and reducing his retinue. Regan upbraids her father explaining that she does not believe her sister would have acted so harshly without reason.
Goneril arrives whilst Lear is questioning who really put Kent in the stocks. Cornwall admits that it was him and shows no repentance. Regan asks Lear to dismiss half his men and return to Goneril then come and stay with her at the end of the month with his fifty men. At this point it seems that Lear is beginning to crack: he pleads with them "do not make me mad". The sisters seem intent on doing just this. Regan suggests he stays with her with just 25 men, he chooses Goneril and 50 men over this until she asserts that he needs no more than 10 or 5 men as she has enough servants to wait on the both of them.
The theme of nothingness is again raised here. He warns his daughter to "reason not the need" because "our basest beggars / Are in the poorest things superfluous." He believes his daughters have reduced him to "a poor old man, / As full of grief as age; wretched in both!" and there is evidence that at this point he is falling apart. He is confused and makes contradictory claims and requests: he swears revenge on his daughters yet he does not know how to implement this but he maintains a façade of strength:
"I have full cause of weeping, but this heart
Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws
Or ere I'll weep. O fool, I shall go mad."
It is obvious how hurt and betrayed he feels and his ominous prediction highlights the fact that this is the last time we are to see him as an even semi-lucid character.
Goneril and Regan, who seem to feel a twinge of guilt over their father's departure, convince themselves and others that if he did not have such a big retinue they would be happy to receive him. Nonetheless they are obviously not too concerned as Goneril requests that Gloucester does not try and persuade him to stay and Regan orders the doors to be locked as a storm is looming.