Act Three – The Climax – Summary

A storm rages on the heath. Kent, seeking lear in vain, runs into one of Lears knights and learns that Lear is somewhere in the area, accompanied only by his Fool. Kent gives the knight secret information: he has heard that there is unrest between Albany and Cornwall and that there are spies for the French in the English courts. Kent tells the knight to go to Dover, the city in England nearest to France, where he may find freinds that will help Lear cause. He gives the knight a ring and orders him to give it to Cordelia, who will know who has sent the knight when she sees the ring. Kent leaves to search for Lear.

Meanwhile, Lear wanders around in the storm, cursing the weather and challenging it to do its worse against him. He seems slightly irrational, his thoughts wandering from idea to idea but always returning to fixate on his two cruel daughters.[loosing his mind] The fool, who accompanies him, urges him to humble himself before his daughters and seek shelter indoors, but Lear ignores him. Kent finds the two of them and urges them the take shelter inside a nearby hovel. Lear finally agrees and follows Kent towards the hovel. The fool makes a strange and confusing prophecy.

Inside his Castle, a worried Gloucester speaks with Edmund. The loyal Gloucester recounts how he became uncomfortable when Regan, Goneril, and Cornwall shut Lear out in the storm. But when he urged them to give him permission to go out and help Lear, they became angry, took possession of his castle, and ordered him never to speak to Lear or plead on his behalf.

Gloucester tells Edmund that he has received news of a conflict between Albany and Cornwall. He also informs him that a french army is invading and that part of it has already landed in England. Gloucester feels that he must take Lears side and now plans to go seek him out in the storm. He tells Edmund that there is a letter with news of the French army locked in his room, and asks his son to go distract the duke of Cornwall while he, Gloucester, goes onto the heath to search for Lear. He adds that it is imperative that Cornwall not notice his absence; otherwise, Gloucester might die for his treachery.

When Gloucester leaves, Edmund privately rejoices rejoices at the opportunity that has presented itself. He plans to betray his father immediately, going to Cornwall to tell him about both Gloucesters plans to help lear and the location of the traitorous letter from the french. Edmund expects to inherit his fathers title, land and fortune as soon as Gloucester is put to death.

Lear sympathies’s with the “poor naked wretches” of the world whom he feels he has neglected. Suddenly Edgar, disguised as poor Tom, speaks from inside a hovel. Lear now quite mad, thinks the beggar is brought to his fate by ungrateful daughters – he feels that only daughters as cruel as his could reduce a an to such a pitiful condition. Lear tears off his own clothes in sympathy. Gloucester reveals to Kent that Goneril and Regan are seeking Lears death.

The information that Kent gives the knight brings the audience out of the personal realm of Lears anguish and into the political world of lears Britain. Throughout the play. we hear rumors of conflict between Albany and Cornwall and of the possible war with France, but what exactly transpires at any specific moment is rarely clear. The questions of the French is not definitely resolved until Act 4. Kents mention of Dover, however, provides a clue; Dover is a port city in the south of England where French ships often landed; It is famous for its high white cliffs. As various charaters begin moving southward towards Dover in the scenes that follow, the tension of an inevitable conflict heightens. Whatever the particulars of the polictical struggle, however, it is clear that Lear, by giving away his power in Britain to Goneril and Regan – and eventually Edmund- has destroyed not only his own authority but all authority. Instead of a stable, hierarchical kingdom with Lear in control, chaos has overtaken the realm, and the country is at the mercy of the plays villians [Goneril, Regan, Cornwall], who cares for nothing but their own power.

Lear and his party has escaped to Dover. Gloucester is arrested and when admits he had advised them. Cornwall removes his eye. One on Cornwalls servants protest this and kills Cornwall but is stabbed by Regan, who takes out his other eye. At this moment Gloucester asks for Edmund but is told that he is Gloucesters betrayer. Thus at this moment Gloucester sees his sons in their true roles and prays for forgiveness. He is told to “smell his way to Dover” One of Cornwalls servants chooses to follow Gloucester and to have Poor Tom[Edgar] to lead him to safety.