# Gloucester — King Lear character guide

> Gloucester in King Lear by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gloucester Sir, noble Gloucester, the traitor Gloucester, Gloucester He that will think to live till he be old, O poor Gloucester, Gloucester Alack

**First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i

## Snapshot

An amiable earl whose casual cruelty at home blinds him to the son scheming against him, and whose suffering turns him into a mirror of Lear's own ruin.

## Who they are

Gloucester is a great lord caught between two sons: the legitimate Edgar he barely knows and the bastard Edmund he foolishly trusts. His weakness for flattery and his habit of joking about Edmund's birth give treachery its opening, and the consequences strip him of his sight, his home, and his confidence in the gods. His parallel fall gives the Lear plot its dark echo, asking whether any father can see clearly until it is too late.

## Relationships

### [Cordelia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/cordelia)

_friendship_

Cordelia shows compassion for Gloucester, and he supports her cause against Lear's cruel daughters.

### [Cordelia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/cordelia)

_friendship_

Cordelia shows compassion for Gloucester, and he supports her cause against Lear's cruel daughters.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Re-enters with France and Burgundy to present them to Lear.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Easily duped by Edmund's forged letter, he condemns Edgar as an unnatural villain and agrees to spy on him. He also laments the recent eclipses and the kingdom's disorders.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Deceived by Edmund, believes Edgar is a traitor and orders his capture, promises to make Edmund his heir.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Attempts to intercede for Kent but is overruled.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv)

Gloucester attempts to mediate between Lear and Cornwall, but is powerless to prevent the confrontation.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii)

Reveals his plan to secretly help Lear and shows Edmund a dangerous letter about a foreign power.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv)

Defies his daughters' commands to seek out Lear, brings a torch, and confesses his own grief over his son

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-vi)

Arranges shelter for Lear and warns of a plot against his life, orchestrating the escape to Dover.

### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-vii)

Blinded by Cornwall; learns of Edmund's treachery and realizes Edgar was wronged.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Blinded and led by an old tenant, Gloucester laments his fate and asks the 'naked fellow' (Edgar) to guide him to Dover.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vi)

Blind and despairing, he attempts suicide but is saved by Edgar's deception, leading him to resolve to bear affliction patiently.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Blind and despairing, he is guided by Edgar and struggles with thoughts of giving up.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/gloucester
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters