The king of France, one of Cordelia’s suitors, chooses to marry her despite her father’s casting her away. Lear strips her of her dowry, divides the kingdom between his two other daughters, and then banishes the earl of Kent, who has protested against Lear’s rash actions. His youngest daughter, Cordelia, refuses. Act 1, scene 1 King Lear, intending to divide his power and kingdom among his three daughters, demands public professions of their love.Before they can be rescued, Lear brings in Cordelia’s body and then he himself dies. Dying, Edmund confesses that he has ordered the deaths of Cordelia and Lear. Edgar then mortally wounds Edmund in a trial by combat. Edmund betrays Gloucester to Regan and her husband, Cornwall, who puts out Gloucester’s eyes and makes Edmund the Earl of Gloucester.Cordelia and the French army save Lear, but the army is defeated. Gloucester, appalled at the daughters’ treatment of Lear, gets news that a French army is coming to help Lear. Goneril and Regan turn on Lear, leaving him to wander madly in a furious storm.Meanwhile, the Earl of Gloucester’s illegitimate son Edmund turns Gloucester against his legitimate son, Edgar. The youngest, Cordelia, does not, and Lear disowns and banishes her. When he tests each by asking how much she loves him, the older daughters, Goneril and Regan, flatter him.

Entire Play King Lear dramatizes the story of an aged king of ancient Britain, whose plan to divide his kingdom among his three daughters ends tragically.

Cordelia's honor