20 NOVEMBER 2007 KING LEAR BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE CONTINUED Act IV Messenger reveals that Gloucester is blind and Cornwall is dead Lear is safe in Dover but racked with guilt of how he treated Cordelia Cordelia has returned to England with France to restore Lear as king Regan asks if Albany’s armies are ready oWants Edmund Why let him live now that he’s blind oHe’s coming back to fight against them Edmund is going to hunt down and kill Gloucester Regan orders Oswald to do the same oTells Goneril to keep her hands off Edmund because now that her husband is dead, she plans on marrying him Gloucester asks to be led to a cliff so he can commit suicide oEdgar leads him to flat ground Lear and Gloucester reunited and recognise each other despite madness and blindness Both characters gained insight and wisdom through their respective madness and blindness Doctor thinks sleep will restore Lear’s sanity Lear gradually recognises Cordelia oTries to kneel down to her but she won’t let him Edmund now leading the army Act V Opens with conversation between Edmund and Regan about his relationship with Goneril Albany, Regan and Edmund getting ready to go into battle Edgar produces the letter from Goneril that proves she wants Edmund to kill her husband If Edmund chooses Goneril, he expects her to kill Albany herself oShe expects him to do it Deadly love triangle Cordelia and Lear as Edmund’s prisoners
