E tenebras, lux dormiens

It starts out like a fairy tale. King Lear, who would like to retire, asks his three daughters to tell him how much they love him so that he can divide his kingdom into three, one for each. The first two princesses, Goneril and Regan, shout out their love to Lear and in doing so, pleases him. As usual, there's the third daughter, Cordelia, who says that she can offer not all of her love, because half must be given to her husband, as well. She believes that her father already knows she loves him best, but Lear, blinded by rage at Cordelia, divides his kingdom into two instead, one for Goneril, one for Regan, and none for Cordelia. Kent, a loyal servant of the king, pleads with him to forgive Cordelia and to think with common sense. In madder fury, Lear banishes Kent from his kingdom, ordering that should Kent be found, he will be killed.

After dividing the kingdom, and transferring all his power so that Lear can retire, Goneril and Regan, conspiring together, betrays him by not giving him any respect that a king is due. Oswald, steward to Goneril, makes fun of Lear, who is angered that he should be treated less than the title of a king.

Kent, who was banished, disguised himself as a stranger offering his service to Lear, so that he may continue serving him. The King's Fool, a jester of the court, appears to make wise jokes that gently reprimand the King for making such a foolish choice. His duty, more than anything, is to drive the King to madness. The King's madness, as well as a storm, begins to grow as he realizes his mistake.

Cordelia, knowing that Goneril and Regan had no love for his father, works with her husband, King of France, to fight Goneril and Regan.

Edmund, the bad guy, and Edgar, the good guy, are sons of Gloucestor; Edmund is a bastard child, and bastard child, born out of wedlock, is never good. Edmund tricks Gloucester into believing that Edgar is trying to kill Gloucester for money. Then, Edmund tells Edgar to run away, armed, because Gloucester is so angry that he could kill Edgar.

Edgar, running away, decides to assume another identity as poor Tom. Poor Tom ran away to sleep in a hovel, upon whom chance the Fool, King Lear, and Kent. After a bit of dialogue, the Fool mysteriously vanishes from the play after going to bed at noon, never to return again.

Edmund then told Regan and Cornwall that Gloucester was being treacherous. Regan catches Gloucester and has her servants tie him up. Then, she puts her boot in one of Gloucester's eyes and blinds it. Cornwall proceeds to blind the other eye by using his sword. Gloucester has now been blinded. He cannot see. Regan and Cornwall reveal to him that it was Edmund who accuses him. Gloucester finally realizes that Edgar has been the good son all along. One of the servants who binded Gloucester, tried to stop the torture, but fought with Cornwall. Both managed to wound the other. The servant died. Cornwall also dies later.

Gloucester later is led out of the palace into a heath, where Edgar also is. As poor Tom, Edgar pretends not to know his father because he is still unsure of his intention. However, Gloucester expresses his misery that he has done wrongs to his good son, Edgar. Moreover, since Gloucester is blinded, he does not know that Edgar, his son, is right in front of him. Gloucester begs of poor Tom to take him to Dover, to the cliff, from which he can fall, committing suicide.

Cordelia, thinking of her father, does not want to stay in France. She seeks to return so that she can find her father and keep him in safety from her vile sisters. With her doctor, they go to Albion (the old name for Great Britain).

Edgar, though requested to lead his father to the cliff of Dover, instead leads him to a bank. Edgar tricks Gloucester into believing that they were already there. Gloucester leaps, and falls onto the floor.

Edgar, then changes his identity again, and speaks with Gloucester, who wants to be left alone to die. However, Edgar convinces him that for some reason, Gloucester has not been killed despite falling from the summit.

Lear enters, his madness nearly eclipsing his sanity, and meets Gloucester. They remember each other. Edgar changes identity to speak with a Gentleman delivering some information, and finally reveal to his father that he is his father's son. Cordelia's Gentleman and Attendants catch Lear and bring him to the camp.

A battle is now occurring between the army of France, led by the King of France and Queen Cordelia, and the army of Regan and Goneril.

Oswald finds Gloucester and tries to kill him for treachery. Edgar, changing his identity yet again, speaks English with a French accent and kills him.

Kent, Cordelia, and the Doctor talk among each other. Cordelia thanks Kent for protecting her father and asks the Doctor how her father is.

Cordelia sees her father wakes and talks to him. Lear sees Cordelia weeping a little. He blames himself for being so foolish. He says that Cordelia did not love him, and therefore deserves to mistreat him, but Regan and Goneril, despite saying how much they love him, spurn him aside. But Cordelia denies that she had ever not loved her father. They go for a walk.

Edgar and Kent, along with the soldiers, fight a great battle and then must retreat. King Lear and Cordelia are both captured by the enemies. Edmund tells the soldiers to take the prisoners Lear and Cordelia to prison.

Goneril and Regan compete with each other for Edmund's love. They eventually kill each other. First, Goneril poisons Regan. Edgar comes and wounds Edmund, his brother. Edgar explains to Albion about how he manages to survive, and about Kent, who remains ever-loyal to the King that had proclaimed him to be his enemy. A gentleman comes explaining that Goneril has stabbed herself and confessed her poisoning of Regan. Edmund eventually dies.

The battle is won finally by the good guys, but they nearly forget about Cordelia and her father.

Lear enters, with Cordelia dead in his arm. He explains that he killed a slave that had hung Cordelia. King Lear eventually goes so mad that he believes he sees Cordelia's lips moving, and dies of a heart attack.

The last lines of the play are from Kent and Albany:

Kent: I have a journey, sir, shortly to go;
My master calls me, I must not say no.
Albany: 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.

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