1. King Lear
Act Four

2. Act Four Scene I: Key Points
Edgar tries to remain positive, though his life has fallen apart.
Gloucester laments the cruelty of life. Edgar meets Gloucester and despairs at what has become of his father.
Still disguised as poor Tom, Edgar agrees to lead Gloucester to the Cliffs of Dover where the old man plans to plunge to his death and end his suffering.

3. EDGAR FACING THE WORST: KIND:
Edgar shows us he is determined to accept whatever fate throws at him. He tries to find comfort in his situation thinking that he is at the lowest possible state and can sink no further.
Unfortunately for him, he is wrong, as is he is almost immediately presented with he sight of his blind father. Edgar realises that he can suffer more than he has already: “And worse I may be yet”.
EDGAR
KIND:
In spite of the wrong done to him by Gloucester, Edgar shows nothing but kindness for his blind and helpless father. He is so overwhelmed by pity that his ability to act as poor Tom is threatened for a moment.
Edgar is horrified by the injuries that Gloucester has suffered and agrees to help him as much as he can.

4. Gloucester WISDOM THROUGH SUFFERING:
Like Lear, Gloucester has begun a journey toward wisdom as a result of the suffering inflicted upon him.
He realises now that he saw nothing for what it really was when he had his sight: I stumbled when I saw”.
He knows he has committed a great wrong against Edgar, and the only thing he wishes for is to meet his son and beg his forgiveness.

5. THINK ABOUT IT!
Critics have often wondered why Edgar does not reveal his true identity to his father at this point. There does not seem to be any need to carry on the disguise and yet he chooses to remain as poor Tom.
He must know his father’s pain would be eased by the knowledge his son is by his side. Does he fear being recognised by Cornwall’s men? Does he believe his father needs to learn more through his suffering?

6. Act Four Scene II: Key Points
Goneril and Edmund arrive at Goneril’s castle and are surprised when Albany does not come to meet them.
Oswald tells Goneril that her husband no longer supports her cause.
Goneril tells Edmund to return to Cornwall and speed up the enlistment of soldiers. She also hints at a possible romance between herself and Edmund.
When Albany emerges from the castle, Goneril calls him a coward. He tells her that her actions are despicable.
News is brought of Cornwall’s death. Goneril fears that Regan might interfere with her plans to be with Edmund.

7. Albany A CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE: ASSERTIVE:
We see Albany’s moral conscience at work in this scene. He has decided he can no longer stand idly by and watch the cruelty of his wife and her sister.
Albany views Goneril’s actions as deeply unnatural and sees her character as dangerous.
ASSERTIVE:
Albany previously appeared a weak and passive husband but has a dramatic turnaround in this scene.
He shows no hesitation or fear in standing up to his wife and threatens her with violence. He now seems to determined to take control.

8. Goneril
PLOTTING:
Goneril believes that she, as a strong woman, deserves an equally strong husband, and is willing to betray Albany in order to gain Edmund’s affections.
Her confidence does not seem shaken by Albany’s new-found courage. She views him as weak and not able for the task of fighting the French.
She will soon learn that she has underestimated her husband.
DISTRUSTFUL:
The news of Cornwall’s death shows once again Goneril’s lack of trust in her sister.
She fears that, now a widow, Regan may make a move on Edmund.
The seeds of the sisters’ downfall are being planted.

9. A KEY MOMENT!
Albany’s crisis of conscience and his determination to stand up to the sisters and Edmund represents the first real setback to the forces of evil in the play.

10. Act Four Scene III: Key Points
Kent hears from a Gentleman how the King of France has landed troops in Britain but has had to return to France.
The Gentleman tells Kent how Cordelia responded emotionally to news of her father’s ill treatment and vowed to help.

11. Cordelia
A LOVING DAUGHTER: In this scene, we learn that Cordelia does not have a grudge against her father for the way he treated her. Cordelia was shocked to learn of her sisters’ behaviour and is determined to rescue Lear from his misery.

12. ASHAMED:
We learn from Kent that Lear is close to Dover. His sanity returns to him in flashes.
Lear is deeply ashamed of his behaviour towards his youngest daughter and as a result, refuses to meet her.
Lear, through his great suffering, has become a very different person to the arrogant and unforgiving ruler we saw at the start of the play.
Lear

13. Act Four Scene IV: Key Points
Cordelia has landed in Britain with the French troops.
She speaks to a doctor about her father’s condition and says that she will do everything in her power to help Lear.
She instructs a group to go and look for the king.

14. Cordelia A LOVING DAUGHTER:
Cordelia’s love for her father is made clear in this scene. She has heard that the mad Lear is wandering the fields near Dover and is deeply concerned that he be found and brought to safety. She offers everything she has to anyone who can cure him.
There is not a hint that she is even slightly resentful towards her father for the way he humiliated her. Everything she does is for his sake. She makes clear she is not invading England for political reasons but purely to rescue her father.

15. Act Four Scene V: Key Points
Oswald delivers Goneril’s letter to Regan, and tells her that her sister now commands Albany’s troops.
Regan is suspicious and jealous about Goneril’s involvement with Edmund , and tries to convince Oswald to give her the letter that Goneril is sending to Edmund.
Oswald refuses to give her the letter but agrees to deliver news of Cornwall’s death to Goneril.
Regan tells him that there will be a reward given to whomever finds and kills Gloucester.

16. Their desire for Edmund threatens to destroy their alliance.
A KEY MOMENT!
This scene brings ever closer the inevitable showdown between Goneril and Regan over Edmund.
Regan’s wish that Oswald warn Goneril to see sense and let Edmund go is an act of open hostility.
Their desire for Edmund threatens to destroy their alliance.

17. Regan
SUSPICIOUS:
Regan’s suspicion of Goneril is starting to take over. She is paranoid about her sister’s intentions towards Edmund and wonders what her letter to him could mean.
She is desperate to know what is in the letter and even tries to bribe Oswald if he will let her open it.
Regan is firmly convinced that Edmund is hers. She tells Oswald that the two of them have talked and are pledged to each other.
Her desperation to have Edmund is clear when she has Oswald tell Goneril to stay away from Edmund.

18. Edmund
DEVIOUS:
Although he does not appear in this scene, we learn through Regan’s words that he has promised himself to her as well as Goneril.
Clearly he is manipulating both sisters in order to be in a position where he can seize total power when the circumstances are right.
Edmund sees people purely as pawns in his game of politics.

19. Act Four Scene VI: Key Points
Edgar pretends to bring his father to the edge of a cliff. Gloucester is tricked into believing that he has plunged to the bottom of the cliff and has been miraculously saved from death.
Lear appears, crowned with flowers, and delivers a speech of mad morality, speaking out against corruption.
Cordelia’s men appear and try to take hold of Lear but the king runs away.
Edgar hears how the English forces are drawing nearer.
Oswald appears and tries to kill Gloucester but is killed by Edgar. Edgar reads the letter that Oswald was carrying from Goneril to Edmund. Goneril’s wicked plans to have her husband killed so she can marry Edmund are revealed.

20. EDGAR
A LOVING SON:
We see the true depths of Edgar’s love for his father in this scene. His only concern is to save his father from despair, and to give him renewed strength and courage.
Edgar displays great skill in convincing his father that he stands on top of a mighty cliff. All of this is done with the ultimate aim of pulling his father back from death.
Edgar also shows his unconditional love and determination to protect his father when Oswald appears, looking to murder Gloucester. He puts on another accent and warns Oswald to keep away but when this does not work Edgar kills him.
This turn of events leads to Edgar discovering Goneril’s letter, giving him proof of his brother’s betrayal. He will inform Albany of the plot against his life and see his brother brought to justice. Edgar may be rewarded for his courage.

21. Lear WISDOM IN MADNESS:
When Lear first appears in this scene, it seems as if he has once again slid into total madness. He is dressed in flowers and makes no sense.
However, we quickly see that he has gained some understanding also. He realises how hypocritical his old life was. Lear sees that he was flattered by people so they could get what they wanted.
Lear

22. Act Four Scene VII: Key Points
Cordelia and Kent are at the French camp where the king has been brought to recover. Cordelia thanks Kent for all he has done and prays for her father’s recovery.
Lear is brought in and the doctor instructs that he should be woken up. When the king awakes he is confused and disorientated.
Lear then recognises Cordelia and begs for her forgiveness.
The British forces are fast approaching the French camp.

23. Cordelia A LOVING DAUGHTER:
Once again, we see Cordelia’s total love for her father on display. She is absolutely desperate to see her father cured.
When Lear does awake she shows no sign of holding a grudge against him, instead kneeling and asking fir his blessing.
When he says that she has plenty of cause for wanting him dead, her reply is simple and moving: “No cause, no cause”.
Her only wish is to see her father safe. Her love is unconditional.

24. In this scene, Lear is finally reunited with Cordelia
In this scene, Lear is finally reunited with Cordelia. At first he believes he has died and woken in the afterlife.
Once he realises he lives and that Cordelia is real is instantly apologetic. He is willing to face any punishment for his actions.
Lear is no longer the arrogant king he once was, he is now a tired old man, aware of his faults and hoping to be forgiven.
Lear