King Lear
Act III
Scene 1

Set up for finding Lear

Gentleman to Dover

Gloucester has news that France is in Briton (spys)
Scene 2 (Climax)

The storm (Pathetic Fallacy)
 Lear’s madness emerging

Kent indicates there is shelter
 Lear’s turning point – cares for others over himself. (fool into hovel first)
Scene 3

Gloucester shares with Edmond that he has received a letter re: Cordelia and
France to put Lear back on throne

Edmond betrays Gloucester – even though he knows it could mean his father’s death so that he can become the new “Gloucester”.
Scene 4

Back to the heath – Lear wants Kent to enter hovel before himself
 “O I have ta’en/ Too little care of this! (III, iv, 32) – larger insight into negligence as King
 Edgar emerges at “Poor Tom” and Lear sees him as a great Philosopher
(Sophocles/Athens references)

False vs Real Madness
 Lear seeks to be an “unaccommodated man” like Edgar

Gloucester and Edgar meet – but Gloucester does not recognize him

Dramatic Irony – Edgar knows father loved him and is grieving his loss
Scene 5

Cornwall wants revenge on Gloucester for helping Lear
 Edmund is named “Earl of Gloucester”
Scene 6
 “Justicer’s scene” – in a farmhouse Lear sets up court to try his daughters.

Edgar is made Judge with the Fool

The animals and a joint stool take the place of the daughters
 Edgar is overwhelmed watching Lear’s true madness and identifies with his pain of betrayal by his family.
 The fool’s final scene
Scene 7

Gloucester returns and has his eyes removed for being a traitor
 Regan’s cruelty underlined

Gloucester calls upon the Gods – and recognizes Edgar’s innocence

Servant tries to save him and mortally wounds Cornwall – Regan kills servant

Gloucester released to the storm to feel his way to Dover