Act III, Scene I
Kent meets with one of Lear's servants who describes how the King is walking through the storm, delirious and half mad hoping for the elements to destroy the land. It begins to become clear that the storm is a pathetic fallacy that mimics the turmoil taking place in Lear's own mind. The gentleman says that Lear "Strives in his little world of man to out-scorn / The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain". This is the first sign we have of the "unaccomodated" Lear. Despairing of his "hag" daughters, he has begun to take on nature itself. In a sense the scene merely compensates for the storm that the Elizabethan theatre could not have provided with any degree of verisimilitude but the nameless gentleman also allows for an unbiased portrait of the king made man and heightens the anticipation for the Lear's speeches to the gods in the next scene.
Kent recognises the servant and realises that he can trust him. He warns him that there is trouble afoot between the dukes of Albany and Cornwall and that a French army has landed on the South Coast. He sends the servant off to find Cordelia in order to gain help from her, he gives him a purse and a ring so that Cordelia will realise who the message has come from.
Act III, Scene II
Lear and his fool are out in the storm which is worsening by the minute as are Lear's ravings. Kent arrives and is not recognised by the King yet he manages to persuade him to enter a hut that he has found near by. Lear acquiesces because he is cold and equally worried about the Fool suffering. The Fool is left on stage to comment about the fact that the natural order is being disrupted and his world is unlikely to be the same again.
It is quite impossible to sum up the impact of this scene. We see in it a new Lear, unrestrained and somewhere between absolute madness and total clarity. Initially he embraces the storm, literally commanding it as if it is one of his armies: "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow! / You cataracts and hurricanes… Singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking thunder, / Smite flat the thick rotundity o' the world!" Lear is commanding an apocalypse, and though pathetic in one sense it is also a moment of pathos: we sympathise as well as condemn.
Lear, near-hilariously, and showing the contradictions inherent in his every thought and desire declares himself the slave of the elements (the "nature" goddess embraced by Edmund in I.ii) but also their master. This is the macrocosmic version of the microcosmic act of giving away his kingdom:
"Here I stand, your slave,
A poor, infirm, weak and despised old man;
But yet I call you servile ministers"
There is something distinctly but strangely touching when Lear, fulfilling his earlier claim that "patience I need", says "No, I will be the pattern of all patience; / I will say nothing". As such, he transforms himself at least in theory into a Cordelia. The self-pity in his other words, however, belies this claim. He tells us, "I am a man / More sinned against than sinning". In this line lie the crucial questions of the play: does he deserve what he gets?
Act III, Scene III
Gloucester explains to Edmund how uncomfortable he is with the way in which Lear is being treated. Yet he shows hope because he has heard by letter that French help is arriving in order to support the King. He warns his son that a word of this must not be mentioned to Albany or Cornwall. Unsurprisingly when his father has left Edmund reveals that he intends to tell all to the dukes and that he will profit from this as all that his father loses he will gain: "The younger rises when the old doth fall"
Act III, Scene IV
Kent, Gloucester and the Fool arrive at a hovel but Lear refuses to enter he feels that the disruption of the elements is nothing in comparison to "This tempest in my mind." His self-knowledge is increasing, though, as he howls, "O, I have ta'en / Too little care of this!" He thrusts himself into the world of the naked and beast-like; the world of Poor Tom:
Take physic, pomp;
Expose thyself to feel what wrteches feel,
That thou mayst shake the superflux to them
And show the heavens more just.
And, indeed, as if summoned by this call to "raggedness", Edgar appears in Tom O'Bedlam's garb.
The Fool runs out crying from the hut fearing that there is a spirit inside. Lear immediately empathizes with him, questioning whether "Dist thou give all to thy daughters?" The sympathies between the lowest of the low (Tom) and the seeming highest (the king) are deeply sympathetic although they are based on falseness on both sides. Egdar is not Tom; Lear is not the king. In masks the protagonists find solace. "Thou art the thing itself;" says Lear, "unaccomodated man… " and by the end of the scene refers to Edgar / Tom as "this philosopher", expressing the wisdom of the mad.
Gloucester arrives and Edgar plays the mad vagrant all the more so that his father will not recognize him. Gloucester urges Lear to go inside as he will be fulfilling his daughter's wishes if he stays outside and perishes. He declares that he too is half -mad because of the betrayal of his much-loved son Edgar. Edgar learns of what his brother has done to him. They leave the hut with "Poor Tom" in tow.
Act III, Scene V
Edmund has obviously just told Cornwall about Gloucester's actions and gives him a letter informing that an army is on its way to aid the King. In return for his loyalty Cornwall declares Edmund the new Earl of Gloucester, since his father's loyalty to Lear amounts to treason. We see the true extent of Edmund's evil here as he states aside that he hopes Cornwall will find his father comforting the King so that his position will be worsened. In keeping with the new order, Cornwall declares Edmund his own kin in their villainy: "I will lay my trust upon thee, and thou shalt find a dearer father in my love".
Act III, Scene VI
In this truly moving scene Lear enacts a mock trial of his daughters and the Fool and Edgar humour him. It becomes clear here just how hurt the King has been and at one point Edgar worries that his tears will prevent him from being able to play along with conviction.
Gloucester enters warning that there is a plan afoot to murder the King. He advises Kent to drive him to Dover in a cart that is waiting for him: there he will find "welcome protection".
Act III, Scene VII
We learn of the impending arrival of the Frence armies. We find ourselves in Gloucester's castle. On hearing of Gloucester's betrayal Goneril wants to "pluck out his eyes" whereas Regan would prefer to "Hang him instantly." Oswald arrives informing Cornwall that Gloucester has also aided Lear with his escape to Dover. Cornwall's servants bring in Gloucester and they are ordered to tie him to a chair. Gloucester seems angered by the behaviour of these guests in his house but Regan asserts that he is a "filthy traitor." Gloucester is diffident in the face of such evil and anger, he is fuelled on by the image of Lear in the storm and swears that he shall seek vengeance upon these ungrateful daughters. Like Lear in his madness, Gloucester begins to speak in images of beasts, the immortals and chaos ("boarish fangs", "wolves… at thy gate howled", "hell-black night", "O you gods!").
Repulsively, Cornwall gouges out one of Gloucester's eyes, vowing that he will never see again. The image reminds us of that other great tragic blinding: the self-inflicted wound of Oedipus in Oedipus Rex. The implication of the creation of a vision above and beyond normal sight is the same. Regan encourages Cornwall to tear out the other too. A servant is disgusted by what he sees before him and asks his master to stop. This outrages Cornwall who draws his sword and they begin to fight. A disgusted Regan takes up another sword and kills the servant from behind but he has already managed to wound Cornwall. Cornwall removes Gloucester's other eye while calls out in misery to his son Edmund to avenge him. It is at this point that Regan takes great pleasure in informing the old man that his bastard son hates him and it was him who he was betrayed by. Finally without the use of his eyes Gloucester is able to see the truth and he is thrown out by Regan. Two servants take pity on him and decide to find a beggar - "Poor Tom" (Edgar) to lead him to Dover.
Act IV, Scene I
Edgar is on stage in the disguise of "Poor Tom" when he sees his blinded father being led towards Dover by an old man. He is deeply moved by the sight of Gloucester and is saddened by the fact that his situation has worsened when he did not think it possible. Gloucester seems stoically resigned to his fate - stating that he has no way to see and when he did have eves he could not see - illustrated by the fact that he believed Edmund's lies.
Gloucester remembers "Poor Tom" from the hut and recalls that he saw within him something reminiscent of his son Edgar. It is at this point that he realises the totally arbitrary nature of life and fate, stating that "Like flies to wanton boys are we to the Gods, / They kill us for their sport." Gloucester requests that Edgar leads him to Dover stating how sick society had become when a blind man had to be led by a madman. Edgar stays in character whilst leading his father, it is hinted to the audience that Gloucester wishes to be led to the top of the highest cliff in Dover so that he may take his life.
Act IV, Scene II
Goneril and Edmund arrive at the residence of the Duke of Albany only to be informed by Oswald that her husband seems to have changed his loyalties. This angers Goneril who, seeing her husband as a coward decides to take the army under her own control. She sends Edmund off to inform Cornwall also hinting that if he manages to get rid of her husband, she will belong to him. She sends him away with a kiss.
Albany enters and a fight ensues between them. He calls his wife a devil who cannot be trusted in any circumstances, illustrated by the fact that she turned against her own father. She calls him a coward and a fool. Albany is even more disgusted when he hears of what happened to Gloucester and has emerged as a decent individual though married to the vile Goneril. He learns this through a servant who tells them also that Cornwall has died at the hands of his men.
A letter arrives from Regan requesting a swift reply. Goneril states that she is in some ways glad that her brother-in-law died as it means she may have more power. Nonetheless she is sad that her sister is a widow and perhaps jealous that she is alone with Edmund. Albany, effectively changing sides, swears to avenge Gloucester's loss of sight.
Act IV, Scene III
Kent is at the French camp. We hear that the King of France has had to return home because of important happenings there. When Cordelia read the letter from Kent about her father she was so deeply moved that she cried. Nonetheless Kent refuses to see Cordelia as he is so ashamed of the way in which he has treated her. Kent has not yet revealed himself and asks the gentleman who brings news to honour this decision.
Act IV, Scene IV
Lear has wandered off and we meet Cordelia again. She is anxious since she fears her father may take his own life now he is "mad as the vexed sea". She asks the doctor present whether he is likely to be able to cure Lear's madness and states that she will give anything if this is possible.
News comes that Goneril and Regan are marching towards them. Cordelia is not concerned, because her husband has allowed her to use the French forces out of pity and in recognition of her great love for her father.
Act IV, Scene V/p>
Oswald arrives at Regan's camp carrying a letter from her sister to Edmund. Regan is suspicious of the contents of the letter but Oswald asserts that he has no idea what it contains. Regan believes that it was wrong of them to allow Gloucester to live because he now exists as a symbol of how they have wronged him and he will turn others against them. For this reason Edmund has been sent to kill him and at the same time observe the strength of the French army. Regan attempts to prevent Oswald passing the letter on to Edmund. She informs him that her sister no longer loves her husband and has feelings for Edmund.
Regan requests that Oswald pass on the message to her sister that Cornwall has died and that arrangements have been made between her and Edmund and that it much more appropriate for them to be married than Goneril and him.
Act IV, Scene VI
To prevent his father from actual suicide, Edgar manages to persuade Gloucester that he is at the top of the tallest cliff in Dover when in reality it is simply flat ground. Gloucester is doubtful but his son points out that his blinding might well have dulled his other senses. When Edgar convinces his father that they have reached the very edge of the cliff Gloucester rewards him by giving him a jewel and asks his son to leave him to his fate.
Gloucester prays to the Gods that he may be rid of his pain and throws himself off what he believes to be the top of the cliff. To some extent it might be said that the effect of this scene is impossible to reproduce on the stage, but we must assume that much of the purpose is to create bathos after Gloucester calls grandly to the gods renouncing the world only to fall flat on his face. Once he is lying on the ground Edgar returns assuming another character. He asks his father if he is dead or alive. He describes watching Gloucester fall from the supposed cliff, escorted by a horned and grotesque animal that he supposed must be the devil. He believes that surely the Gods have spared Gloucester. His son's ruse convinces the old man who decides that for as long as he lives he will bear his suffering.
Lear appears with a crown of weeds, declaring ludicrously, "I am the King himself". He raves about the cruelty of his daughters, his belief that Gloucester's bastard son was kinder than his spawn and about the nature of adultery and lust. He sees even the "wren" and "the small gilded fly" copulate before his eyes, and the world spills over with (sexual) "appetite". This saddens Gloucester greatly who finally acknowledges that the King is indeed mad. The bedraggled characters of Gloucester, his son and Lear are a sad sight and evidence of the effect of lies and mistrust: a beggar, a blind man and a madman. They find themselves upon what Lear calls "this great stage of fools".
Lear wanders off the stage and Oswald comes upon Gloucester and Edgar and threatens to kill the old man. Edgar protects his father and slays Oswald whose dying words are that Edgar should deliver the letters in his purse to Edmund Earl of Gloucester if he wishes to be rewarded. Edgar swears that he will show the letter from Goneril persuading Edmund to murder Albany and become her husband to the duke at a later date.
Act IV, Scene VII
Cordelia thanks Kent profusely for taking care of her father. The King is brought back in and has been asleep long enough to be woken. Lear is awoken by Cordelia's kiss, slightly disorientated he is not totally sure that Cordelia is his daughter. When he becomes aware he asks for her forgiveness stating that "I am a very foolish fond old man." He also seems to be more lucid and perhaps even sane: "I fear I am not in my perfect mind." Here Lear expresses his state with true self-knowledge, dragging himself back from the tragic brink of his madness to see himself on fortune's wheel contrasted with the pure image of Cordelia:
"Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead…
I am a very fond foolish old man"
He leaves the court asking that they might "forget and forgive."
Act V, Scene I
The war has begun between the English and the French. Regan questions Edmund as to whether or not he loves her sister, she asserts that she would rather lose the battle than lose her sister to Edmund. Edgar who is disguised gives Goneril's letter to Albany and asks him to read it before he fights. He requests that if he wins the battle a trumpet should be sounded for the man who delivered the letter and then the contents of the letter can be proved to be true.
Edmund is left on stage alone to consider his predicament. He has sworn his love to both these sisters and their jealousy is so strong that " Neither can be enjoy'd / If both remain alive." He is aware that until the battle is won he needs the help of Albany and decides to wait on his decision until then. He is still an oddly sympathetic character when compared to the two "adder"-like daughters of Lear who are fighting to win him. In his circumspect way, like Claudius in Hamlet or to a lesser extent like Iago in Othello, he stands aside from the madness of the action betrayed by his villainy but charismatic to the end.
Act V, Scene II
Edgar leads his father on stage and leaves him under a tree. When he returns he reports that the British have lost the battle and Cordelia and the King have been captured. Gloucester, defeated claims that he does not want to go on - this upsets his son.
Act V, Scene III
Edmund orders for Lear and Cordelia to be taken away - Cordelia is not angry but only sad for her father's sake. Lear is adamant that he does not want to see Goneril and Regan and that him and Cordelia will lead a happy life together in prison. They have taken on an almost-divine role. Imprisonment is deemed a fine existence now:
"We two alone will sing like birds I' the cage…
And take upon 's the mystery of things
As if we were God's spies"
Lear has found in his renewed love for Cordelia and his dismissal of the puerile world of court a higher purpose and a poetry to match that of any other Shakespearean hero.
Regan declares that Edmund is to be her husband. Albany arrests Goneril and Edmund for high treason and points out to Regan that she is unable to marry him because he is already promised to Goneril and his wife. As Edgar told him to do, Albany orders for the man to come forward who can prove Edmund's treason and that if no-one comes forward he intends to fight him himself.
Edgar appears disguised as a knight and duels with his brother. Edmund is mortally wounded. As Goneril cries out Albany reveals that he has read the letter that she sent to Edmund, she attempts to defend herself and runs off stage. Just as he dies Edmund confesses to all his sins and more. Edgar reveals himself and Edmund states that "The wheel has turned full circle. I am here." (i.e. Edgar who was so luckless at the start of the play has managed to rise again.) Edgar recounts his story as a madman and consequently how his father died but happily because Edgar revealed himself.
A gentleman rushes in explaining that Goneril and Regan are both dead. Goneril had poisoned her sister and then upset by the death of Edmund confessed all and stabbed herself. Finally Edmund manages in a show of kindness to inform Albany of where he has imprisoned Lear and Cordelia and that he ordered for them to be killed. He redeems himself in this act as best he can, but the outcome is made no less tragic.
Lear enters carrying Cordelia in his arms: she is dead. Her father cannot believe and tries to prove that there is still life in her. He cries out against everyone around him that her death could have been prevented. Kent reveals himself but Lear is too distraught and confused to comprehend what has happened, even when he is told his other daughters have died. Albany claims he will hand all power back over to the King. At this moment Lear dies and Kent says he should be left to pass away; he has suffered enough. Albany requests that Kent and Edgar rule with him but the older man declines claiming that he will soon follow his master. Edgar has leaves us with a poignant and touching speech reflecting the enormity of what has taken place:
"The weight of this sad time we must obey
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say
The oldest hath borne most; we that are young
Shall never see so much, nor live so long."