Summary

Scene One

Two faithful friends of King Lear, Kent and Gloucester, meet in Lear’s palace. Gloucester introduces Kent to his son, Edmund, who was born to an unwed mother and is therefore considered to be a bastard. Gloucester explains that he has another son, a “legitimate” one named Edmund, but that he also loves his bastard son dearly. Their conversation is interrupted when Lear makes his appearance, followed by his three daughters – Regan, Goneril, and Cordelia. Lear has called this meeting because he plans to divide up his kingdom between the three daughters so he can retire in peace and enjoy his old age without the responsibility of ruling a kingdom.

Before he divides up the land, Lear requests that each of his children profess how much they love him, and he promises to give the most land to the daughter who...