# King Lear — King Lear character guide > King Lear in King Lear by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Lear, King Lear Ay, King Lear Regan, King Lear Prithee, King Lear Ha, King Lear Darkness, King Lear My lord of Burgundy, King Lear True, King Lear Thou, King Lear By Jupiter, King Lear Deny **First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i ## Snapshot An aging monarch who mistakes flattery for love and surrenders his crown, then rages against the storm he himself has summoned. ## Who they are Lear commands Britain and its court, a king whose word has always been law and whose temper has never been tested. When he divides the kingdom by asking his daughters to quantify their love, he reveals the flaw that will undo him: a need to be adored that blinds him to honesty. His early arc turns on that miscalculation, as the deference he demands curdles into the cruelty of those he trusted. ## Relationships ### [Edmund](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/edmund) _rivalry_ Edmund manipulates Lear's kingdom and family, ultimately opposing him as a primary antagonist. ### [Edgar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/edgar) _friendship_ Edgar, disguised as Poor Tom, becomes a companion and helper to the mad King Lear on the heath. ### [Oswald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/oswald) _professional_ Oswald is Goneril's steward, serving as a messenger and antagonist to Lear, often disrespecting him. ### [Fool](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/fool) _friendship_ The Fool is Lear's loyal court jester and companion, using wit and truth to counsel and comfort him. ### [Cordelia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/cordelia) _family_ Cordelia is Lear's youngest daughter, deeply loved but disowned for her honest refusal to flatter him. ### [Kent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/kent) _friendship_ Kent is Lear's loyal nobleman and friend, who remains faithful even after being banished, serving him in disguise. ### [Goneril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/goneril) _family_ Goneril is Lear's eldest daughter, who betrays him by stripping his power and treating him cruelly. ### [Edmund](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/edmund) _rivalry_ Edmund manipulates Lear's kingdom and family, ultimately opposing him as a primary antagonist. ### [Fool](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/fool) _friendship_ The Fool is Lear's loyal court jester and companion, using wit and truth to counsel and comfort him. ### [Edgar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/edgar) _friendship_ Edgar, disguised as Poor Tom, becomes a companion and helper to the mad King Lear on the heath. ### [Goneril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/goneril) _family_ Goneril is Lear's eldest daughter, who betrays him by stripping his power and treating him cruelly. ### [Edgar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/edgar) _friendship_ Edgar, disguised as Poor Tom, becomes a companion and helper to the mad King Lear on the heath. ## In the story ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i) Disowns Cordelia, banishes Kent, and divides his kingdom between Goneril and Regan. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iv) Lear hires Kent in disguise, confronts Goneril over her treatment, curses her with sterility, and leaves to find Regan. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-i-scene-v) Sends Kent with letters to Gloucester, wrestles with guilt over Cordelia, and prays not to go mad. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv) Lear confronts Regan and Goneril, curses them, and is driven to the brink of madness by their ingratitude. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i) Reported by the Gentleman as raging against the storm, tearing his white hair, and running bareheaded, striving to out-scorn the wind and rain. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii) Rages against the storm and his daughters, beginning to lose his wits. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv) Rages against the storm and his daughters' ingratitude, prays for the poor, and becomes fixated on Edgar as a 'philosopher' ### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-vi) In a state of madness, Lear conducts a mock trial of his daughters, revealing his obsession with their ingratitude. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii) Lear is in the town near Dover, but his shame over disowning Cordelia prevents him from seeing her, despite his desire for reconciliation. ### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vi) Appears fantastically dressed with wild flowers, delivering a mad but profound critique of authority, justice, and human hypocrisy. ### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vii) Awakens from a deep sleep, confused and repentant, slowly recognizes Cordelia, and asks for forgiveness. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii) Appears briefly with Cordelia and soldiers; reported captured after the battle. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii) Captured with Cordelia, imagines a blissful prison life, then dies of grief holding her dead body. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters/king_lear - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_lear_se/characters