SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to King Lear (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options) recap

King Lear divides Britain between Goneril and Regan after disowning Cordelia for refusing to flatter him. Once empowered, the elder daughters strip away his followers and authority, driving him into a storm. Meanwhile Edmund frames Edgar, betrays their father Gloucester, and rises by serving Lear's daughters. Cornwall and Regan blind Gloucester, but disguised Edgar guides and protects him. Cordelia returns with French forces to rescue Lear, and the two reconcile. Their army loses; Edmund orders them executed while Goneril and Regan compete for him. Goneril poisons Regan and then kills herself. Edgar defeats Edmund and exposes his treachery, but the reversal comes too late: Cordelia is hanged, and Lear dies holding her body. Albany relinquishes power, Kent expects death, and Edgar is left to govern the ruined realm.

Lear announces that he will divide Britain among his daughters according to how fully they declare their love for him. Goneril and Regan offer elaborate praise; Cordelia refuses to exaggerate. Lear disowns Cordelia, banishes Kent for defending her, and gives power to the two elder daughters and their husbands. France marries Cordelia without a dowry. Edmund, Gloucester's younger son, forges a letter suggesting that Edgar plans to displace their father, then persuades Edgar to flee. At Goneril's home, Lear's large retinue causes conflict. Goneril demands that he reduce it, and Lear curses her before leaving for Regan. Kent returns in disguise to serve Lear, while the Fool repeatedly warns that the king surrendered the power that once protected him.

Edmund stages a fight with Edgar and wounds himself, convincing Gloucester that Edgar is dangerous. Edgar hides by adopting the identity of a destitute wanderer called Poor Tom. Cornwall and Regan punish Kent for quarreling with Oswald, placing him in the stocks despite his service to Lear. When Lear arrives, Regan supports Goneril rather than her father. The sisters reduce the number of followers they will allow him to keep until they question why he needs any. Refusing to submit, Lear rushes out into a violent storm with the Fool; Kent follows to find and protect him. Gloucester privately decides to aid the king despite Cornwall's orders, while Edmund prepares to use that decision against his father.

Exposed to the storm, Lear rages against the weather and begins recognizing the suffering of people who lack shelter and power. Kent leads him to a hut, where they meet Edgar disguised as Poor Tom; Lear, the Fool, and the disguised Edgar form a strange company. Gloucester finds them and arranges help. Edmund shows Cornwall a letter proving Gloucester's assistance to Lear and is rewarded with his father's title. Cornwall and Regan seize Gloucester, blind him, and cast him out. A servant who tries to stop the cruelty wounds Cornwall before Regan kills the servant; Cornwall later dies from the injury. The blinded Gloucester learns that Edgar was falsely accused. Still concealed, Edgar takes charge of his despairing father and guides him toward Dover, where Cordelia's supporters are gathering.

In Dover, Cordelia searches for Lear and brings him under medical care. Gloucester asks his unknown guide to lead him to a cliff so he can end his life. Edgar instead stages a harmless fall on level ground and persuades him that he miraculously survived, restoring some will to continue. Lear, wandering and mentally disordered, meets Gloucester before Cordelia's attendants find him. Lear wakes in Cordelia's care, recognizes her, and asks forgiveness; she answers with compassion. Political conflict grows among the British leaders: Goneril and Regan both desire Edmund, while Albany condemns Goneril and the cruelty done to Gloucester. Edgar kills Oswald and finds Goneril's letter proposing Albany's murder. The French-backed force led by Cordelia prepares to fight the British army commanded by Edmund.

The British army wins, and Lear and Cordelia are captured. Edmund sends them away with a secret order for their deaths. Albany arrests Edmund and Goneril for treason. A disguised Edgar challenges Edmund, defeats him, and identifies himself; he reports that Gloucester died after learning the truth about his loyal son. Regan, poisoned by the jealous Goneril, dies, and Goneril kills herself after her conspiracy is exposed. The dying Edmund admits that he ordered Lear and Cordelia killed and tries to cancel the command, but help arrives too late. Lear carries in Cordelia's body: she has been hanged. Unable to revive her, he dies beside her. Albany offers rule to Kent and Edgar. Kent says his own life is nearly over, leaving Edgar to face the work of governing after the collapse of Lear's family and court.

Lear and Cordelia are captured after the French-backed army loses. Edmund secretly orders both killed. Goneril poisons Regan because they are rivals for Edmund, then kills herself when Albany exposes her conspiracy. Edgar defeats Edmund in a formal challenge and reveals his identity; the wounded Edmund admits his crimes and tries too late to stop the executions. Cordelia has already been hanged. Lear enters carrying her body and dies in grief. Gloucester has also died after learning that the disguised son who protected him was Edgar, while Cornwall died earlier from a wound received during Gloucester's blinding. Albany yields authority to Kent and Edgar, but Kent indicates that he will soon follow Lear in death. Edgar is left to bear responsibility for the damaged kingdom.