King Lear questions 2, 3 and 4
Q2) who betrays who in the play?
Q3) who kills who in the play?
Q4) Give characteristics of the main characters.
ANSWERS FOR QUESTION 2
 Goneril and Regan betray King Lear. Lear , who divides his kingdom between them with the hope that he will still
have his title and spend equal time at their homes. However they demoralise his authority by reducing the
number of his knights. They let him stay in the violent storm, instead if providing him shelter.
 Edmund betrays both Gloucester and Edgar by making Glocuester believe that Edgar plotted to kill him.
 Regan and Goneril betray their husbands by having an affair with Edmund. They betray each other by having an
affair with the same man.
 Edmund betrays both Goneril and Regan by having a relationship with both of them, just to have a chance to
inherit land.
 Cornwall betrays King Lear and Cornwall betrays Gloucester as he and Regan destroy his eyes
 Cordelia is betrayed by King Lear as he says he loves her the most but he disowns her.
 Edmund betrays Goneril and Regan as he has sexual affairs with both.
 Glocuester betrays Cornwall.
 Regan betrays Goneril and goes for Edward in Cornwall.
ANSWERS FOR QUESTION 3
 Gloucester’s servants murder Cornwall for the revenge of gouging Gloucester’s eyes out.
 Goneril poisons Regan out of jealousy over Edmund and then herself dues to Albany’s knowledge of her plot to
kill him.
 Edgar kills Edmund
 Edmund orders Cordelia to be hung; Cordelia is executed.
 Cordelia’s death kills King Lear.
 Cornwall kills the fool.
 Albany is killed by Oswald.
 Lear dies from heartache.
 Edgar, revealing himself to his father, kills Gloucester.
ANSWERS FOR QUESTION 4
Lear  ageing, blind, regretful, hubris(arrogance), mad, foolish.
Gloucester  vulnerable, blind, faithful/loyal, old.
Kent  loyal, protective, caring, clever, trustworthy.
Goneril  betrayer, unfaithful, cunning, disloyal, deceitful.
Regan  betrayer, unfaithful, cunning, disloyal, jealous, indecisive (follows her sister).
Cordelia  loyal, innocent, loving, protective, true, beauty, honest, strong minded.
Cornwall arrogant, selfish, vindictive, evil, weak, deceitful, power hungry.
Albany  loyal, blind, respectful, repents, caring.
Oswald  loyal, servant.
Edmund disloyal, selfish, bitter, evil, clever, liar, deceitful, jealous.
Edgar  loyal, loving, innocent, true.
The fool  funny, emotional, loyal, truthful, confrontational.