Changes

===Act III===

===Act III===

Apparently having gone completely mad, Lear has gone into the open countryside to rage against the storm, accompanied only by his faithful Fool. The Earl of Kent has heard the rumors of division between Albany and Cornwall, and has also heard that the King of France is aware of the intrigues and is planning a massive invasion to capitalize on the disorder. Meanwhile, in Gloster's castle, the Earl tells Edmund of his displeasure at the intrigues against the king. Having also heard the false rumor of division between the dukes, Gloster tells his son about a letter locked in his closet which expresses his intention to side with Lear against his daughters.

Having gone completely mad, Lear has gone into the open countryside to rage against the storm, accompanied only by his faithful Fool. The Earl of Kent has heard the rumors of division between Albany and Cornwall, and has also heard that the King of France is aware of the intrigues and is planning a massive invasion to capitalize on the disorder. Meanwhile, in Gloster's castle, the Earl tells Edmund of his displeasure at the intrigues against the king. Having also heard the false rumor of division between the dukes, Gloster tells his son about a letter locked in his closet which expresses his intention to side with Lear against his daughters.

Lear continues to shout down the elements, while the Fool tries to convince him to return to shelter. Kent arrives and leads them to a hovel, which turns out to be inhabited by the well-disguised Edgar, pretending to be crazy. Gloster finds them, and not recognizing Edgar, tells Lear that Goneril and Regan are forbidding him from opening his castle to Lear's company. Lear takes an interest in the mad young man, and asks him to preside as judge in a mock trial. They grab a few cats, and cross-examine them as if they were Goneril and Regan. Lear soon passes out, and is carried away by Kent and the Fool to Dover, where they are to seek out Cordelia and the King of France.

Lear continues to shout down the elements, while the Fool tries to convince him to return to shelter. Kent arrives and leads them to a hovel, which turns out to be inhabited by the naked Edgar, pretending to be crazy. Gloster finds them, and not recognizing Edgar, tells Lear that Goneril and Regan are forbidding him from opening his castle to Lear's company. Lear takes an interest in the mad young man, and asks him to preside as judge in a mock trial. They grab a few cats, and cross-examine them as if they were Goneril and Regan. Lear soon passes out, and is carried away by Kent and the Fool to Dover, where they are to seek out Cordelia and the King of France.

Back in Gloster's castle, Edmund betrays his father, giving his letter to Cornwall. Gloster is sent for, and brought in to be viciously interrogated by Regan and Cornwall. After sending away Edmund, they gouge out Gloster's eyes, and their cruelty offends one of the servants to the point where he draws his sword and strikes down Cornwall dead. Regan takes a sword and kills the servant. Gloster is ejected from the castle, and two more servants, moved by sadness, follow behind him to comfort him and escort him to Dover.

Back in Gloster's castle, Edmund betrays his father, giving his letter to Cornwall. Gloster is sent for, and brought in to be viciously interrogated by Regan and Cornwall. After sending away Edmund, they gouge out Gloster's eyes, and their cruelty offends one of the servants to the point where he draws his sword and strikes down Cornwall dead. Regan takes a sword and kills the servant. Gloster is ejected from the castle, and two more servants, moved by sadness, follow behind him to comfort him and escort him to the nearest village.

 

Edgar finds his father in a wretched state, and still feigning madness, begins to lead him to Dover. At the Duke of Albany's palace, Goneril and Edmund are alone, bad-mouthing her husband. Oswald enters, and Goneril sends the two men to Cornwall's castle to organize an army against France. Albany enters, and reproaches Goneril half-heartedly for her aggression, which leads her to call him "milk-livered." A servant enters and tells them about Gloster's eyes and Cornwall's death. Albany is horrified, and Goneril is disgusted at her husband's weakness. Goneril exits with dark intentions of killing her husband, and Albany finds out that she has been having an affair with Edmund, vowing to avenge Gloster's eyes.

 

 

At Dover, the French king has withdrawn, leaving his army, one general, and Cordelia behind. Kent has informed Cordelia about Lear's predicament, and she enlists a doctor to help once they reunite. Gloster asks Edgar to lead him to a cliff to let him jump, and Edgar instead brings him to the middle of the field. Gloster jumps and passes out. Edgar wakes him up, pretending to be a commoner, and they soon reunite with King Lear. They commiserate over Regan and Goneril's wickedness, and Oswald finds them, drawing his sword to kill Gloster. Edgar draws his sword and kills Oswald instead. They read a letter which the servant had been carrying, revealing Goneril's plot to kill Albany. Cordelia finds them, and as the battle draws near, she and her father share a tearful reunion.

[[Category:Plays of Shakespeare]]

[[Category:Plays of Shakespeare]]