Scene I:

    In Act I, Scene I, we are introduced to many of the main characters in the play.  The scene takes place in Lear's throne room.  Lear is the King of England (Albion).  Lear has decided to relinquish control of his kingdom into the hands of his daughters and their husbands.  Lear demands that the daughters profess their love for him.  Two of his daughters, Goneril and Regan tell him exactly what he wants to hear, but
Cordelia doesn't.  She drops out of Lear's favor and is given no land. Her suitor no longer wants to marry her because he will get no land, but the King of France does.
    Lear banishes the Earl of Kent despite his loyalty, because he told the King that he was acting irrationally.  Goneril and Regan begin to plot against their father, due to fear he will continue to act rashly and leave them with nothing.

Scene II:

    Edmund reveals his evilness and his plan to frame his brother, Edgar, so he can take all his father's power.  Edmund transforms from evil, to a seemingly devoted and caring son when his father comes in. Edmund makes it obvious that he is hiding something from Gloucester, which is a letter written by him, but that he will say was written by Edgar to his father, which contains an outline of his plan to overthrow Gloucester.  Gloucester believes Edgar wrote it and is angry.  He then
leaves and Edgar mocks him and his values.

Scene III:

    In this scene we see a different side of Goneril.  In Scene I we see her professing her love to her father, but now she seems to be more manipulative.  She is plotting against her father and telling her servant to lie to him and ignore his authority.  She makes it  seem as though she is in charge and Lear is under her control.  She says she doesn't care if Lear goes to Regan, because Regan wants to take over his
power also.

Scene IV:

    We learn that the exiled Kent is returning in disguise so he may be close to Lear and continue to serve him.  We are re-introduced to Lear, now in retirement and he seems very relaxed.  Lear hires Kent thinking he is someone else.  Lear is slightly neglected, and Cordelia, now in France is subtly built up as a good person.  Kent does things to earn Lear's trust during the scene.  The fool mocks the Kong, questioning his
judgment of giving away his kingdom while he's still fit to rule.
Goneril turns on her father, Lear and Goneril get into a fight, and the King curses her.  We learn during this scene that Goneril is not afraid to make a stand.  Albany is not that closely allied to his wife.

Scene V:

Scene I:

    In Gloucester's castle, Edmund learns that Cornwall and Regan are due to arrive that evening. Edmund urges Edgar to leave.  After Edgar leaves, Edmund injures himself.  He tells Gloucester that Edgar attacked him.  Gloucester proclaims Edgar is a traitor.  Regan and Cornwall are told of Edgar's "treason."  Edmund says he will serve Cornwall.  Regan
asks Gloucester's advice in regards to her father.

Scene II:

    Kent and Oswald insult each other and then duel.  Edmund, Cornwall, Regan, and Gloucester enter and stop the fight.  Kent slanders Oswald. Cornwall wants to put Kent in the stocks.  Gloucester is against the idea because Kent is a servant of the King.  Regan sides with Cornwall.

Scene III:

    Edgar runs for his life and realizes he must disguise himself.  He becomes Tom the beggar.

Scene IV:

Scene I:

    Kent meets with a Gentleman in the storms, he learns that Lear is wandering around accompanied by a fool, and contending with the fretful elements.  Kent finds he can trust the Gentleman and tells him about the growing conflict between Albany and Cornwall, how France is about to invade England, and of Lear's problem.  He tells the Gentleman to go to Dover and inform his subjects of Lear's suffering.  He gives the Gentleman a ring as a means to identify himself to Cordelia, should he meet her.  She will then reveal Kent's identity to him.

Scene II:

    Lear screams at the elements, but says that he doesn't begrudge them as he does his daughters, because they didn't betray him.  He seems rather crazy, and says he 'will be the pattern of all patience.'  Kent shows up and persuades the King to take shelter in a nearby hovel, and the Fool recites a nice little prophecy.

Scene III:

    This takes place at Gloucester's castle.  Gloucester complains about the bad treatment he has received from Regan and Cornwall, they tell him not to seek help from King Lear.  Edmund thinks this is atrocious and Gloucester takes him into confidence; Gloucester has has a letter, the
contents of which are a threat to Cornwall; there is a power on foot which will come to the King's aid.  Edmund resolves to tell Cornwall all that he has just learned.

Scene IV:

    Kent, Lear, and the Fool go to the hovel.  They find Edgar there, disguised as a madman named poor Tom.  Gloucester finds them and leads them to a house.

Scene V:

    Edmund is still devious.  He tells Cornwall that Gloucester is a traitor, and as a reward is given his father's title.  He goes out to find Gloucester to catch him in the act of helping the King.

Scene VI:

    Lear is mad and imagines he is putting Regan and Goneril on trial. Gloucester returns and warns the King that his death is being plotted, and recommends that Lear be moved to Dover, where Cordelia and the King of France will protect him.

Scene VII:

Scene I

     In this scene, Gloucester just had his eyes gouged out and is wandering through the countryside assisted by an old man who is also a family tenant. While they wander, they encounter Edgar.  Edgar is not recognized as Gloucester’s son, but as a “poor mad Tom”.  Gloucester then dismisses his old tenant so that Edgar can lead him.  “Tis the time’s plague when madmen lead the blind.”  Gloucester’s tenant doesn’t dismiss himself without arguing about his master being lead by a beggar.  Gloucester asks if Edgar knows the way to Dover, where King Lear is headed. Gloucester tells Edgar of his plan to leap off a cliff to end his misery, and Edgar leads him off.

Scene II

     Goneril arrives at the Duke of Albany’s, welcomes Edmund and searches for her husband.  Oswald’s accounts of Albany prove that his character and personality have changed since the beginning of the play.  Goneril considers her husband a coward, believes she will take command, and tells Edmund to
return to Cornwall where they will work together directing an army in opposition to France.  Edmund expresses his loyalty to Goneril, she kisses him, and then Edmund exits.  Albany begins to yell at Goneril for her treatment of Lear.  Albany calls Goneril and Regan “tigers” and Goneril replies by calling Albany a “fool”.  News arrives telling of the Duke of Cornwall’s death.  He has apparently been stabbed by a servant.  Albany
believes the Duke’s death proves there are higher powers at work.  Goneril believes with Edmund out of the way, she and Edmund can entirely gain control of Britain.  She also is under the impression that widowed Regan may become a rival for Edmund’s love.

Scene III

      Kent learns that the King of France has been forced to return to his own country.  The King’s marshal is also in charge of the French troops in Britain.  Cordelia’s reaction of Kent’s letters concerning her father are revealed by the Gentleman.  Apparently, she is greatly troubled by her
sisters’ treatment of Lear who is in nearby Dover, but too stubborn and proud to meet with Cordelia.  The Gentleman also gives reports that the armies of Albany and Cornwall are already on the move and Kent says he’ll take the Gentleman to Lear and reveal his own identity.

Scene IV

     Cordelia, who is now the leader of the French army, dis- covers the state of her father’s condition,being dressed with weeds and flowers, and so she sent some troops to find him and bring him toher.  When she asked what the
probability wasthat Lear would be cured, the doctor tells her that the herbs they have given him, will allow a full recovery.  Then Cordelia hopes that he will bebetter and his life will be spared.  Then a messenger comes and informs her of the arrival of the British troops, which was expected, as she
says.  Nevertheless, she keeps in mind that the troops
she has are there solely to bring her father back.

Act IV, Scene V
Regan finds out from Oswald that Albany has agreed to lead his forces against France.  Regan believes that Edmund has gone to kill Gloucester.  She approves of this because Gloucester will act as a martyr and the subjects will turn against his oppressors.  Oswald wants to deliver Goneril’s letter, however, Regan wants him to stay, until the next day, when the troops and the danger have moved on.  Regan insists upon opening the letter from Goneril to Edmund, however Oswald refuses.  She then instructs Oswald to tell Goneril to come to her senses.  Regan then convinces Oswald to kill Gloucester at their next meeting and Oswald agrees.

Scene VI

     Here Edgar is better dressed, instead of being mostly naked, he is leading his father, Gloucester, to the hill of Dover.  He convinces Gloucester that they are struggling up the hill, and then Gloucester asks Edgar if his voice has changed, and tells him that it seems more rational and clear.  But Edgar
reassures him that his voice hasn’t changed, and the only thing that has changed is the clothes he is wearing.  Later, Edgar informs his father that they are now at the edge of the cliff.  Gloucester gives Edgar a purse with a jewel inside, and he prays, telling the gods that he can no longer lead a
good life, and asks a blessing for Edgar.  He the falls and loses
consciousness.  In actuality they were not on top of a hill, however, Gloucester did not lose this. Once Edgar has regained consciousness, he pretends to be someone else and claims he has fallen a great distance and a “miracle” has occurred.  Gloucester is convinced that the gods have saved
him.  Later they encounter Lear and he is crazy and running around. Gloucester recognizes Lear’s voice and expresses his sympathy for Lear’s present state.  Closely after, the band of soldiers dispatched by Cordelia to find King Lear arrives.  The soldiers attempt to catch Lear, but he runs away.  The Gentleman tells Edgar that the battle between the British and Cordelia’s army is about to be fought.  When Edgar begins to lead his father away, they encounter Oswald who describes
Gloucester as an “old unhappy traitor” and declares that he will kill him. Gloucester doesn’t protest, but Edgar comes to his aid and defends him. Oswald threatens to kill the peasant, or Edgar, if he doesn’t get out of the way.  Edgar then later asks to let them pass or they will suffer the consequences.  They begin to fight, and Edgar wins, but before Oswald’s
death, Oswald tells Edgar to deliver the letter to Edmund.  Edgar reads the letter and discovers the instruction from Goneril to Edmond, which is to murder Albany, in order to win her as his wife.  Afterwards, Edgar leads
Gloucester as they leave.

Scene VII

     Cordelia thanks Kent, who has revealed his true identity.  Lear awakes and they converse.  He describes Cordelia as an angel and he asks for her blessing.  Cordelia says she is not bitter or offended by her father’s past actions and she gives Lear her blessing.  The King’s health is completely restored.  The Gentleman tells Kent that Edmund is the General of Cornwall’s army and that Edgar and Ken are exiles in Germany.  Kent believes the bloody war is coming (the climax is approaching).