King Lear

Shakespeare's King Lear, like anything by Shakespeare, has very complex character relationships. This diagram is intended to help readers visualize the play.

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Betrayal Explanations

What follows is a short explanation of how the various characters betray eachother.

King Lear

Lear's excessive pride leads him to banish his daughter Cordelia for not expressing her love for him. His trusty servant Kent attempts to defend her, only to be banished himself.

Lear's daughters

Both Goneril and Regan betray the trust their father bestowed upon them when he entrusted them with his kingdom. They both disrespect him and seek his death.

Albany & Goneril

Goneril loves the evil Edmund, and so plots against the life of her husband Albany. She writes to Edmund via Oswald with these instructions to kill Albany:

Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have
many opportunities to cut him off: if your will
want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered.
There is nothing done, if he return the conqueror:
then am I the prisoner, and his bed my goal; from
the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply
the place for your labour.
'Your--wife, so I would say--
'Affectionate servant,
'GONERIL
(IV, vi)

Albany, however, intercepts the letter and so foils her plans.

Edmund & Edgar

Edmund convinces his father that Edgar was implicated on a plot on his life. He fakes a letter by Edgar saying

This policy and reverence of age makes
the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps
our fortunes from us till our oldness cannot relish
them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage
in the oppression of aged tyranny; who sways, not
as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come to
me, that of this I may speak more. If our father
would sleep till I waked him, you should half his
revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your
brother, EDGAR.
(I, iii)

Gloucester is fooled by the deception, and banishes innocent Edgar.

Edmund & Gloucester

Gloucester dilvuges in his son Edmund that the army of France is preparing an invatsion. Edmund betrays this confidence by telling all to the Duke. He explains that by creating the downfall of his father, he will move up in power.

This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the duke
Instantly know; and of that letter too:
This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me
That which my father loses; no less than all:
The younger rises when the old doth fall.
(III, iii)

Character Traits

This section is still under development, so expect some unfinished bits

King Lear

Tired, he's an old man who wishes to retire and put the onus of ruling on someone else.
Very proud, he disowns his daughter for not saying she loves him enough
Bad judge of character, consistently trusts those who seek to usurp him, whilst banishing those who are loyal to him.

Cordelia

Pure as the driven snow, Cordelia is one of the few characters in the play without a dishonest bone in her body.
Overestimates those around her, she assumes that her father will know how much she loves him, so chooses to remain mute.
Loyal, even after being banished from England, Cordelia still is so loyal to her father that she gets the French army to invade.

Goneril & Regan

Goneril and Regan are very similar characters, and their traits are almost the same, eliminating the need to describe them separately

Power-hungry, seizing the opportunity that Lear presents to them.
Selfish, they will do whatever it takes to get ahead, even if it requires betraying an ally.
They both are attracted to evil men, and in the play both set their sights on Edmund.

Gloucester

Gloucester and Lear's stories have many parallels, as do their personalities.

Bad judge of character, consistently trusts those who seek to usurp him, whilst banishing those who who are loyal to him.
Gullible, is easily fooled by Edmund.
Loving father, he loves both his sons equally even though one is a bastard.

Edgar

Inherits his father's character judgement, and is betrayed by his brother
Virtous, even after being banished sticks around and comforts his father (in disguise, of course.)

Edmund

Opportunistic, sells out his own father in order to move up in the court.
Bitter about being a bastard, is convinced that everyone treats him worse as a result.
However, deep down he is intrinsically good, as shown by his surprising change of heart in Act V.

Cornwall

Loyal Husband,
Cruel, along with his wife, he gouges out Gloucester's eyes.

Albany

Good morals, he does not approve of his wife Goneril's evil ways, and turns on her by the end of the play.

Kent

Loyal and devoted, stands by his king to the end, and protects him from slander by the likes of Oswald
Perseverant, notwithstanding his banishment, Kent continued to serve the king in disguise.

Oswald

Loyal, he never sways from his allegiance with his mistress Goneril, and obeys all of her requests.
Cruel, he attempts to murder Gloucester, and assists locking Kent in the stocks.
He is also a drone, unquestioningly following through with every one of Goneril's requests.

The Fool

Very intelligent, he's always aware of what's really going on, and what betrayals are taking place.
Indirect but honest, he always tells Lear the truth in roundabout and often facetious ways.
Clever & witty, he thinks of comical rejoinders and little poems for any situation.