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A long time ago, King Lear had three daughters, Reagan, Goneril, and Cordelia. King Lear decided he wanted to retire and give up sections of his kingdom. So he gave the girls a "love test". Lear was sure that Cordelia, his favorite daughter would love him the most, and get the most land. Goneril and Reagan buttered up to King Lear, telling promising lies to him. When Cordelia simply said that Lear should know how much she loved him, Lear banished her. The king of France, who was present at the time, still married Cordelia, even more impressed because of her honesty. She then went to France. When one of Lear's closest advisors, the Earl of Kent tried to protest against Cordelia's banishment, Lear banished him too. But Kent disguised himself as a servant, and was hired to work for King Lear. Since Lear had given away all his land to Reagan and Goneril, so he took 100 of his knights, his new servant (the Earl of Kent), and his fool or jester with him to Goneril's place. But Goneril refused to let King Lear stay. Confused, Lear journeyed to Reagan's palace. Lear sent his servant (the Earl of Kent) ahead of them. When Lear got there, he was outraged to find his servant in the stocks. Then Goneril arrived at Reagan's palace. They confronted Lear and told him that he must give up his hundred soldiers. Lear was filled with sorrow, and he ran out into the storm. His servant, the Earl of Gloucester who was at Reagan's palace, sadly watched him go. His children too had given him trouble. His son, Edmund had told Gloucester that his other son, Edgar was planning to murder him, which was a lie. |