Full of cruelty and betrayal, King Lear is the timeless and timely story of a kingdom held in the thrall of an aging ruler’s descent into madness. Desperate for praise, he banishes those who would guide him with honesty and surrounds himself with sycophants—an action which leads to his ultimately tragic downfall...
Table of Contents Dramatis personae ACT I. Scene I. [King Lear's Palace.] Scene II. The Earl of Gloucester's Castle. Scene III. The Duke of Albany's Palace. Scene IV. The Duke of Albany's Palace. Scene V. Court before the Duke of Albany's Palace. ACT II. Scene I. A court within the Castle of the Earl of Gloucester. Scene II. Before Gloucester's Castle. Scene III. The open country. Scene IV. Before Gloucester's Castle; Kent in the stocks. ACT III. Scene I. A heath. Scene II. Another part of the heath. Scene III. Gloucester's Castle. Scene IV. The heath. Before a hovel. Scene VI. A farmhouse near Gloucester's Castle. Scene VII. Gloucester's Castle. ACT IV. Scene I. The heath. Scene II. Before the Duke of Albany's Palace. Scene III. The French camp near Dover. Scene IV. The French camp. Scene V. Gloucester's Castle. Scene VI. The country near Dover. Scene VII. A tent in the French camp. ACT V. Scene I. The British camp near Dover. Scene II. A field between the two camps. Scene III. The British camp, near Dover.