"King Lear" tells the tragic story of an aged king of ancient Britain who plans to divide his kingdom among his three daughters. To determine how much each loves him, Lear tests them. The older daughters, Goneril and Regan, flatter him, but the youngest, Cordelia, does not, leading Lear to disown and banish her. Cordelia marries the King of France. Goneril and Regan betray Lear, leaving him to wander madly in a storm.
Simultaneously, Edmund, the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, deceives his father into turning against his legitimate son, Edgar. Gloucester, horrified by Lear’s treatment, learns of a French army coming to aid Lear. Edmund betrays Gloucester, leading to Gloucester’s blinding by Regan and her husband, Cornwall, and Edmund becoming the new Earl.
Cordelia and the French army rescue Lear but are defeated. Edmund imprisons Cordelia and Lear. Edgar wounds Edmund in a trial by combat, and a dying Edmund confesses he has ordered their executions. Lear brings in Cordelia’s body and dies from grief.
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