King Lear

King Lear

William Shakespeare

Three Watson
Irvine, CA 92618-2767
Website: www.sdlback.com

Saddleback’s Illustrated ClassicsTM

Three Watson
Irvine, CA 92618-2767
Website: www.sdlback.com
Copyright © 2006 by Saddleback Educational Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
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written permission of the publisher.
ISBN 1-59905-149-4

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William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564, in
Stratford-on-Avon, England, the third child of John Shakespeare,
a well-to-do merchant, and Mary Arden, his wife. Young William
probably attended the Stratford grammar school, where he
learned English, Greek, and a great deal of Latin. Historians
aren’t sure of the exact date of Shakespeare’s birth.
In 1582, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. By 1583
the couple had a daughter, Susanna, and two years later the
twins, Hamnet and Judith. Somewhere between 1585 and
1592 Shakespeare went to London, where he became first an
actor and then a playwright. His acting company, The King’s
Men, appeared most often in the Globe theater, a part of which
Shakespeare himself owned.
In all, Shakespeare is believed to have written thirty-seven
plays, several nondramatic poems, and a number of sonnets.
In 1611 when he left the active life of the theater, he returned
to Stratford and became a country gentleman, living in the
second-largest house in town. For five years he lived a quiet
life. Then, on April 23, 1616, William Shakespeare died and
was buried in Trinity Church in Stratford. From his own time
to the present, Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest
writers of the English-speaking world.

William Shakespeare

King Lear

goneril king lear
regan kent
cordelia edgar

edmund
gloucester

king lear

Nearly two thousand years ago, old King Lear ruled Britain. He had
three daughters: Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia.

Lear had always been a man who acted without thinking things
through. Because of this, he was about to make one of the biggest
mistakes of his life.

10 I thought the king liked Goneril’s husband,
the duke of Albany, Better than the duke of
One day in the Cornwall who’s married to Regan.
palace, the Earls
of Kent and of I always
gloucester were thought so.
talking.

But now that I see!
he is going
to divide his Is not this Yes,
kingdom, he’ll your son? though I
give an equal was once
share to each ashamed
of them. to admit* it.

* say that something is so

king lear 11

I don’t Why, his You must be Oh, yes. I have
understand. mother had proud of him now! a legal* son, a
a son be- year older than
fore she had this one—and I
a husband! love them both.
But that was
a long time
ago.

Edmund, this I am happy to
is the duke of meet you, sir.
Kent, a good
friend. Listen! The King
is coming.

* according to the law

12

At the sound of
trumpets, King
Lear entered
with his court.

The King of I will sir.
France and the
duke of Burgun-
dy are outside,
Gloucester.
Bring them in.

king lear 13

Without waiting I am old and I want to give up my throne
for his visi- tired of the and let my daughters rule!
tors, the old troubles
King made his of ruling a
announcement.* Kingdom.

Look at this map. I’ve di-
vided my kingdom into three
parts. The daughter who
says she loves me the most
shall have the largest part.

* a statement made before a group of people

14 Dear Father, I love
you more than
Goneril, you are words can say!
the oldest. What
do you say?

More than my eyes. . . more than
my health. . . more than life itself!

I love you as much
as any child ever
loved a father!

king lear 15

I am pleased! I will Thank you, dear
give you and your father.
children all the rich
land between these
lines on the map.

Then King Lear turned to I feel as
his second daughter. my sister
does.
Now our dearest
Regan, wife of the
Duke of Cornwall. . .
what do you say?

She describes* Nothing else in the world
my love for you means anything to me com-
exactly—but she pared** to my father’s love!
says too little.

* explains, shows, tells about
** showing how two things are alike or different

16 What do I do? I
love my father
But Cordelia, more than they do.
the King’s
youngest
daughter,
was unhappy
at what her
sisters said.

But I can’t speak of If my father
my love. I can’t lie and doesn’t know
flatter* him, as they do. that I love him,
then I can’t help
it!

* make someone think he is better than he really is

king lear 17

While Cordelia To you and
was thinking these your children,
thoughts, the old Regan, I give
King answered this third of
Regan. my Kingdom,
no less than I
gave Goneril!

Then, he turned to Cordelia, his youngest and favorite* daughter.

Now my greatest Nothing, dear
joy. . . courted** father.
by the leaders
of France and
Burgundy. What
do you say,
Cordelia?

Nothing? Nothing It makes me unhappy. . . but I
will get you noth- can’t tell you my love in words.
ing! Speak again!

* best loved
** sought after in marriage

18

You’re my father. You’ve raised I don’t see how my sisters can say
me and loved me. I obey you, love they love only you. What about
you, and honor* you. their husbands?

When I marry, I cannot do
I shall give my what they
husband half my say they do.
love and care.

* respect

king lear 19

You mean all this? You So young,
are so young, but so Father, but
hard-hearted? so truthful!

Then let your But, sir. . .
truth be your
inheritance!*
From now
on you are a
stranger to me!
You shall have
nothing!

Quiet, Kent! Don’t
come between me
and my anger. I
loved Cordelia
most, but now I
disown** her!

* whatever a child receives at his parents’ death
** have nothing more to do with

20

I’ll divide my
kingdom be-
tween Goneril
and Regan. I’ll
live with each
of them in turn,
with a hundred
knights to
serve me.

But the Earl I have honored You are acting foolishly.
of Kent you as my King. . . Cordelia does not love you any
protested.* loved you like a less than the others!
father. But I can’t
let you make such Stop, Kent, if
a mistake! you want to
go on living!

* objected, did not agree

king lear 21

I’m not afraid Out of my You have five days in which to
to lose my life sight, or I’ll leave my kingdom! If you’re
for you, sir. kill you myself! found here after that, you’ll
be killed.

Then goodbye,
my king.

May the gods And may your acts
protect you, dear prove your words
truthful daughter. of love!

With this the Earl of Kent left,
banished* from Lear’s Kingdom.

* sent away forever

22

Soon afterward, Welcome, France
the trumpets an- and Burgundy!
nounced that the
King of France
and the duke
of Burgundy
were entering
the room. both
wished to marry
cordelia.

My Lord of Bur- Only what I no longer love her. She will have
gundy, what is you have nothing! Take her or leave her as
the least you ask already she is.
as a dower* in offered
order to marry me, sir. Then, sir. . .
my daughter? I must
leave her.

* money given to a daughter and her husband when she is married

king lear 23

And you, great Only because you are
King! Since I now angry with her? That
hate my daughter, makes me love her more
you’d best look than ever!
elsewhere for a
wife!

Fair Cordelia, I will
make you my queen and
the queen of France!
Tell them goodbye and
come with me!

24

She is yours. I’ll
never see her again!
Be gone, without my
love and my blessing.

Tell your Saying this, Lear left the room with the dukes
sisters of Cornwall, Albany, and Gloucester.
goodbye.
I leave our father to your care.
Give him the love you say you
feel for him.

Don’t tell us Since you now have
what to do! nothing, you’d better
think about pleasing
your new husband!

king lear 25

And so Meanwhile, in Gloucester’s Why should I
Cordelia castle, his son Edmund plotted suffer because
went to against his half-brother** Edgar. my mother was
France and not married to
Kent was my father? Why
exiled.* King should Edgar
Lear gave up get everything?
his powers
to Goneril
and Regan.

No! I must have And this
Edgar’s land letter I
for myself! have written
will get it
for me!

* sent away
** a brother who shares only one parent with another brother or sister

26

Edmund’s father, Hello, What were It’s nothing!
Gloucester, entered. Edmund. you reading? Only a let-
What’s new? Why did you ter from my
hide it when I brother. . .
came in? not fit for
you to read.

Nothing, dear
father.

If it’s Very well. Perhaps Gloucester “Old men own
nothing, Edgar wrote it read the let- everything.
it won’t only to test my ter aloud. They keep our
matter! loyalty* to you. fortunes
Give it to from us until
me. we are too
old to enjoy
them.”

* the act of remaining faithful in hard times

king lear 27

“If my father should die soon, “If my father should die
I would give you half of his soon. . . I would give you half
fortune. Your brother, Edgar.” his fortune. . .” Edgar wrote
this? Who brought it to you?

I found it
thrown in at
my window.

Is this his Yes. I hope
handwriting? his heart is
not in it. But
I’ve heard
him say
such things
before.

Oh, how could I don’t know. May-
he? where is be you misjudge*
he? him. I’ll find him
and test him out.

* believe someone to be different from what he really is

28 Yes, do. He
can’t be such
I will work it so you can a monster!
hear us talk unseen. This very
evening!

Soon afterward, Edgar entered the Two hours Was he angry
room. ago. why? with you at all?

Hello, brother When did you
Edmund! speak with our
father last?

No, of course Well, he is angry with
not! you now! You must
keep out of his way!

king lear 29

Someone That’s what I am Here is the key. Stay there until
must have afraid of. Go to my you hear from me.
lied about room until he has
me! time to cool off. Is it that
bad?

I think he I can’t believe As Edgar went A father who
is angry it! But let me away, Edmund believes too
enough to know what smiled an evil easily, and
kill you! If happens. smile. a brother
you do go too noble*
outside, go to be suspi-
armed! cious**. . .
I’ll soon
have his
fortune!

* good and honest
** thinking evil of someone

30 My father is old and foolish.
He gave away his powers, but
It was several he still tries to give orders. I
days later. King won’t stand for it!
Lear and his
knights were
staying with
Goneril and the
duke of Albany.
Goneril spoke
with Oswald,
her servant.

His knights Yes, madam. Tell him I’m sick. Tell the other
cause trouble. servants not to wait on him. And
And he’s never treat his knights the same way!
happy with what
we give him. Very well,
When he returns madam.
from hunting, I
won’t see him!

king lear 31

If he doesn’t
like it, let him go
to my sister’s!

Meanwhile the I am ready for Yes, Sir.
earl of Kent, dinner and I
disguised* as don’t want to Very well.
a stranger, wait. see to it! But where’s
arrived at my dinner?
Goneril’s Where’s my
home. He daughter?
was worried
about the
old king and
wanted to be
near him.

What’s this? An honest fel-
Who are low who wishes
you? to serve you.

* dressed to look like someone else

32

at that mo- Whenever he saw his oldest daughter, she looked
ment, the ser- angry. One day he could take it no longer.
vant oswald
entered the Daughter, why Why shouldn’t I? Your
room. But In- do you frown so Fool makes fun of
stead of serv- much? us. your knights make
ing the King, he trouble. Get rid of
walked away them at once! All you
again. Lear need here are a few
began to see old men to serve you!
that Goneril
and her ser-
vants had no
respect for his
wishes.

How can you say
that to me? I have
another daugh-
ter. . . I’ll go to
her! Saddle my
horses!

But as Lear prepared to leave While all this was happening, Edmund
for Regan’s castle, Goneril continued to plot against Edgar.
made plans of her own.
You must go! Not But I’ve done
Take this letter to only our father nothing to
my sister. Tell her is looking for hurt them!
everything! Then you, but Regan
hurry back. and the duke of
Cornwall are
too! They’re
coming here now!

king lear 33

Father’s coming.
Quick, draw your
sword! I must
pretend to fight
you!

Now get away, I’ll stab my-
brother, quickly. . . self—pretend
or they’ll catch that Edgar has
you! hurt me!

Light, here! Where is he?
Torches! Father!
help!

34 When he Make me promise I can hardly
couldn’t to murder you. believe it!
He’s run away. what? When I wouldn’t
When he couldn’t. . . agree, he
wounded* me.

But he will be Cornwall and his lady arrived
caught and tonight. He’ll have Edgar out-
killed! We’ll lawed** in all his lands! And you,
reward who- my loyal son, will take your
ever catches brother’s place!
him. And it will
be death for
anyone who
hides him!

* injured, cut
** hunted as a criminal

king lear 35

Soon the And then they explained why they had come.
duke of
Cornwall My father and Goneril are You are
and Regan angry with each other. If always
arrived. the king brings his knights welcome
Hearing to my house, I wish to be here.
Edmund’s away!
story, they
agreed
that Edgar
should be
caught and
punished.

Messengers I will do
can come and anything I
go with letters can.
from both of
them. But mean-
while, we need
your advice.*

At dawn, two Why, you’re the same rascal** I want nothing
messengers who was so rude to the king to do with you!
arrived outside. at Goneril’s palace!
One was Kent,
still disguised,
with a letter
from Lear, and
the other was
Oswald with one
from Goneril.

* help
** dishonest person

36

I suppose you carry No! Help! If you won’t Help! Help!
letters against the Leave me fight, I’ll beat Murder!
King, taking Goner- alone! you! Take that!
il’s side. Draw your
sword!

What’s the Peace! Stop at It’s the messengers from
matter? once! Goneril and the King.

king lear 37

Why were you I am angry
fighting this that such a
man? person should
wear a sword!
Perhaps you don’t He doesn’t
like mine. . . or his, look honest.
or hers? I don’t like his
face.

Frankly, I
have seen
better
faces in
my time. . .

Bring out Sir, I am here It shows You’ll sit there
the stocks!* on the King’s little re- until noon!
We’ll teach business. spect to him
this old to put me in I’d say
man some the stocks! until
manners! night. . .
and all
night,
too.

* a wooden frame in which a person to be punished must sit for a certain time

38 I’ll answer Come away,
to him! husband.
Please, sir. . .
the King won’t
like it that his
messenger
is so badly
treated. . .

While Kent My new servant is being Your son-
had been punished? What does this in-law and
left in the mean? Who did it? daughter,
stocks, King sir.
Lear arrived
at Regan’s
Castle. Find-
ing her gone,
he went to
Gloucester’s.

My daughter? Where Seeing the King, Gloucester rushed outside
is she? I must see to greet him.
her at once!

where is my They know you are
daughter and her here. . . they are
husband? tired. Be patient! They
will see you later.

king lear 39

At last Regan I am glad to see Oh, Regan. . .
came to her you, dear father. I hope so!
father. Your sister
has been
so unkind.
You won’t
believe it!

I don’t believe she What? Sir, you are old! You must
would do less than be guided by others. Go
her duty to you. If back to my sister. Tell her
she said that your you were wrong.
knights were mak-
ing trouble, it was
with good reason!

What? Ask her Should I say,
to forgive “Dear daugh-
me? Should ter, forgive
I go on my me for being
knees to her? old. I beg you
for food, bed
and clothing!”

40 Just then a trumpet sounded.

Get up! You whose trumpet My sister’s! She
must not act call is that? said she would
that way! soon be here.

I won’t go
back to her!

Goneril entered. Soon it be- Or come to me, Or why even
came clear to Lear that neither with only twenty- one knight?
of these daughters wanted him. five knights. You Our servants
don’t need so will wait on
Go home to many. you.
Goneril with
half of your Never!
knights, and she
will receive you!

Oh, heavens, help
me! I must not go
mad from anger
and old age!

king lear 41

with that, king lear threw up his hands and rushed away. he could not
believe that his two daughters had turned against him.

I would rather Go, then, We must go in. A
live outdoors Old man! storm is coming!
than under your
roof! Heaven But, sir. . .
will give me my
revenge!*

Gloucester followed King Lear a But there’s His men will
short way, but he soon returned. not even a take care of
bush for him. Shut your
The King is It’s his shelter doors and lock
very angry. own fault. near here! them tight!
He’s leaving.
Where will Maybe
he go? it will
teach him
a lesson.

Regan advises
you well! It is a
wild night. come
inside.

* getting even with someone

42 Listen! The
dukes of
During the night the storm raged. Albany and
On the heath,* Kent met one of the Cornwall
King’s men. are plotting
against each
Where is the Out in the other. Goneril
King? storm. . . with and Regan each
only his Fool for want the whole
company! kingdom! But
help is coming
for the King.

Cordelia is in I’ll go Meanwhile, inside the castle,
Dover with a quickly! Gloucester talked with Edmund.
French army.
Take this ring, They’re cruel That’s
go to her to the old very bad!
there, and tell King. They give
her what’s the orders in
happening. my own castle.
Now they’re
fighting among
themselves!

* a wild, marshy area

king lear 43

And I’ve just heard that a It’s dangerous, but I must go
French army is coming to help and find the King and help him.
the king. I am on the old king’s Tell the duke I am ill and in bed.
side if I die for it!
Yes,
Father.

Meanwhile At least it’s No, I must put up with what the
the storm something. Please poor have suffered all these
still raged. go inside, sir! years, when I never knew how
Kent found it was.
the King
and led him There’s a
to a hut. ghost inside
here! Help
me!

The “ghost” Go away! Have his daugh-
was Edgar. ters brought him
To escape, to this sad state?
he has
disguised
himself as a
mad beggar.

44

Lear finally Sir, I won’t obey your First I must talk
decided to daughters! Let me give with this wise man
enter the hut you a place to stay. here.
and get warm.
But before he
could do so,
Gloucester
found him.

Listen to him. I Can you
am afraid he is blame him?
losing his mind. His daughters
are trying to
kill him!

During Here is the letter my I will get even with him!
this time, father had. It proves And you will become the
Glouces- that he is helping Earl in his place! Find him
ter had not France against you! so we may capture him!
recognized*
his son Edgar.
And meanwhile
in his castle,
the son he
trusted was
betraying**
him!

* knew from seeing someone before
** doing evil to someone who trusts him

king lear 45

At last the King I’ve overheard a plot to kill the Yes!
entered the hut, King! Quick, put him on a stretch- Cordelia is
and Gloucester er and carry him to Dover! there with
went away. But a French
soon he re- army!
turned.

The King was Evil man. Where What letters have I have
carried away. is the King? you had from france? done
But the next nothing
morning wrong.
Gloucester The French
was captured armies
and brought come
to the duke only to
of Cornwall. protect
the King
from his
cruel
children!

I shall see You’ll never see scratch
revenge it! You’ll have Them out.
from heaven no eyes!
overtake
such chil-
dren!

In a moment Cornwall
had blinded Gloucester in
one eye.

46 Sir, I’ve served Cornwall and the servant
you all my life, fought. Cornwall was wounded.
But as but I can’t let
Cornwall you do this I’m hurt! Husband, give
moved to cruel thing! me your sword!
attack
again. . .

Die, you I’m dying! But you Even though he was hurt, Cornwall
peasant!* have one eye left, sir. blinded Gloucester’s other eye.

Not for What do you Everything’s
long! see now, old dark! Where’s my
man? son Edmund?

Edmund?
He hates
you!

* a person of low class

king lear 47

It was Ed- then Edgar has Put Gloucester Help me
mund who been true to me! outside the gates. Regan. I’m
showed us Let him smell his badly hurt!
the letter way to Dover.
you had!

You must leave me, It’s, Tom
friend, for you’ll be in the mad
trouble! But who is here? man.

Gloucester was
put outside. A
very old man
came by and
helped him. Soon
they met Edgar,
still dressed like
a mad beggar.

Then the mad can lead I’ve lost my
the blind. . . If Tom good wits, sir,
knows the way to Dover. but I can lead
you where you
want to go.

And so, unknown to
Gloucester, the son who
truly loved him became
his guide.

48

The next day, Goneril and Edmund returned to Albany’s Albany was
castle. a kind, just
man. When he
Where is the duke? Inside, but very heard how
changed! When he the old king
heard a French and Glouces-
army had landed, ter had been
he was pleased! treated, he
was angry.
His love for
Goneril had
that moment
turned to
hate.

Then you must And take this kiss I’m yours
go back to to remember me until death!
Cornwall. Help by! You’ll hear
them get their from me soon.
army ready to
fight the French.

Finding Edmund very much like her-
self, Goneril had fallen in love
with him.

As Edmund Cornwall has Then he has been And Regan’s a
left, the died from his punished for his widow,* free to
duke of wound! cruel actions! marry Edmund,
Albany whom I love!
entered the
room. And
almost at
the same
time, a
messenger
arrived.

* a woman whose husband has died

king lear 49

Meanwhile, The King is too ashamed He must be
Cordelia and to see Cordelia. He found and
the French is wandering outside cared for!
were in Dover. somewhere.
Kent and King
Lear had ar-
rived safely,
although from
what he had
suffered, the
King was now
half-mad.

At the same time, Edgar and I will live
Gloucester had also arrived in no longer!
Dover. If Edgar is
still alive,
Good madman, are We are! may he be
we on the edge of It makes blessed!
the high cliff I spoke me dizzy
about before? to look
down!

But knowing that his father And believing he was on a high
would try to kill himself, Edgar cliff, Gloucester jumped.
had brought him to a flat place
instead.

50

Then he fainted. Edgar held him I saw you If the gods have
until he came to himself again. fall! It is saved me, then I
a miracle* will stay alive,
Where am I? I was here at the that you even with no eyes.
Did I fall? foot of a high are still
Who are you? cliff when you alive!
jumped!

Just then Look, look. . . a I know that
King Lear mouse! Draw your voice—it’s
came upon swords! the King!
them, and
they could
tell that
he was
mad.

Edgar and Here he is! Take Sir, your loving Am I a
Gloucester him gently! daughter. . . prisoner?
listened Treat me
sadly well. I am
as the a King.
mad King
raved. Then
Cordelia’s
men found
him.

* a wonderful happening that can’t be explained or understood