Chapter Synopsis of King Lear - Study Guide by William Shakespeare

Kent, Gloucester and the Fool arrive at a hovel but Lear refuses to enter he feels that the disruption of the elements is nothing in comparison to "This tempest in my mind." His self-knowledge is increasing, though, as he howls, "O, I have ta’en / Too little care of this!" He thrusts himself into the world of the naked and beast-like; the world of Poor Tom:

Take physic, pomp;

Expose thyself to feel what wrteches feel,

That thou mayst shake the superflux to them

And show the heavens more just.

And, indeed, as if summoned by this call to "raggedness", Edgar appears in Tom O’Bedlam’s garb.

The Fool runs out crying from the hut fearing that there is a spirit inside. Lear immediately empathizes with him, questioning whether "Dist thou give all to thy daughters?" The sympathies between the lowest of the low (Tom) and the seeming highest (the king) are deeply sympathetic although they are based on falseness on both sides. Egdar is not Tom; Lear is not the king. In masks the protagonists find solace. "Thou art the thing itself;" says Lear, "unaccomodated man… " and by the end of the scene refers to Edgar / Tom as "this philosopher", expressing the wisdom of the mad.

Gloucester arrives and Edgar plays the mad vagrant all the more so that his father will not recognize him. Gloucester urges Lear to go inside as he will be fulfilling his daughter’s wishes if he stays outside and perishes. He declares that he too is half -mad because of the betrayal of his much-loved son Edgar. Edgar learns of what his brother has done to him. They leave the hut with "Poor Tom" in tow.

Act III, Scene V

Edmund has obviously just told Cornwall about Gloucester’s actions and gives him a letter informing that an army is on its way to aid the King. In return for his loyalty Cornwall declares Edmund the new Earl of Gloucester, since his father’s loyalty to Lear amounts to treason. We see the true extent of Edmund’s evil here as he states aside that he hopes Cornwall will find his father comforting the King so that his position will be worsened. In keeping with the new order, Cornwall declares Edmund his own kin in their villainy: "I will lay my trust upon thee, and thou shalt find a dearer father in my love".

Act III, Scene VI

In this truly moving scene Lear enacts a mock trial of his daughters and the Fool and Edgar humour him. It becomes clear here just how hurt the King has been and at one point Edgar worries that his tears will prevent him from being able to play along with conviction.

Gloucester enters warning that there is a plan afoot to murder the King. He advises Kent to drive him to Dover in a cart that is waiting for him: there he will find "welcome protection".

Act III, Scene VII

We learn of the impending arrival of the Frence armies. We find ourselves in Gloucester’s castle. On hearing of Gloucester’s betrayal Goneril wants to "pluck out his eyes" whereas Regan would prefer to "Hang him instantly." Oswald arrives informing Cornwall that Gloucester has also aided Lear with his escape to Dover. Cornwall’s servants bring in Gloucester and they are ordered to tie him to a chair. Gloucester seems angered by the behaviour of these guests in his house but Regan asserts that he is a "filthy traitor." Gloucester is diffident in the face of such evil and anger, he is fuelled on by the image of Lear in the storm and swears that he shall seek vengeance upon these ungrateful daughters. Like Lear in his madness, Gloucester begins to speak in images of beasts, the immortals and chaos ("boarish fangs", "wolves… at thy gate howled", "hell-black night", "O you gods!").