King Lear Synopsis
By Kristin Hall
King Lear, the aging ruler of Britain, announces that he will divide his kingdom into three parts based on which of his three daughters loves him most. Goneril and Regan, his two eldest daughters, outdo each other in flattering their father. But Cordelia, Lear’s favorite, youngest and still unmarried daughter, refuses to stoop to base flattery. Her answer infuriates Lear, who disinherits her on the spot (the King of France, moved by her integrity, is still willing to marry her even without a dowry.) Lear also banishes Kent, one of his most loyal courtiers, for defending Cordelia. The King divides his kingdom between Goneril and Regan, intending to live alternately between their households for the remainder of his life. Meanwhile, Edmund, the bastard son of the Earl of Gloucester, resolves to win the inheritance of his older (and legitimate) brother, Edgar. He creates distrust between Edgar and their father that results in Edgar fleeing for his life.
Rather than leave for exile, Kent disguises himself in order to keep serving Lear.  Lear, his Fool and his retinue of 100 knights (and Kent) arrive to stay with Goneril, who treats them scornfully. Infuriated by her treatment, Lear travels to stay instead with Regan. Goneril writes quickly to her sister, encouraging her to treat their father in the same manner. When Kent intercepts this letter and challenges the messenger, Cornwall (Regan’s husband) gives him a degrading punishment. Cornwall and Regan have traveled to Gloucester’s castle just to get out of hosting Lear, but the King meets them there. He becomes enraged upon seeing Kent so degraded, and rails upon his treatment from Goneril. Goneril herself then arrives to support Regan, and they gang up on the old King, eventually turning him out of the castle without shelter from a threatening storm. 
In the meantime, still thinking that his father seeks to kill him, Edgar has disguised himself as a peasant named ‘Poor Tom.’ He runs into the half-mad King out on the stormy heath. Risking the wrath of Goneril and Regan, Gloucester arranges shelter in Dover for the now-feverish King and his ragtag companions. When Cornwall finds out, he savagely blinds Gloucester as punishment. Regan throws the blinded Gloucester out of the castle; ‘Poor Tom’ finds him and leads him toward Dover. Cordelia’s husband is leading an army from France to fight with Goneril and Regan’s powers, and she is reunited with her father at Dover. While in Dover Edgar happens upon crucial evidence of his illegitimate brother’s treachery: Edmund has pledged his affections to both Regan and Goneril.
The English army wins the battle and takes both Lear and Cordelia prisoner.  Edgar appears as an anonymous ‘white knight’ and challenges Edmund in combat; Edmund loses and confesses his sins before dying. Regan has poisoned Goneril, only to commit suicide when her infidelity and treason are exposed. It’s also too late for Cordelia: she has already been hanged by secret command from Edmund. After carrying her body into the courtyard, Lear dies of grief. Edgar assumes command of the kingdom.