at he will not let hisillegitimate birth and older brother prevent him from inheritinghis father's estate. He devises a plan to convince Gloucesterthat Edgar is secretly planning to kill his father to get hishands on the family property and enjoy it while he's stillyoung. Edmund then tells Edgar that their father is after himfor some mistaken notion of a reported crime. EventuallyGloucester is convinced of Edgar's treachery and seeks to puthis older son to death. Edgar flees for his life. Meanwhile, Lear discovers that living with his two daughters isno joy. He is so outraged by their cruel behavior toward himthat he curses them and rushes out into a violent storm. Duringhis exposure to the elements he is accompanied by Kent, the Fool(his court jester), and eventually by Edgar, who has disguisedhimself as a lunatic beggar named "poor Tom." Gloucester tries to help Lear and his followers but is betrayedto Cornwall and Regan by Edmund. As punishment, Gloucester isblinded and sent out into the storm, too. Edgar, stilldisguised, discovers his blind father and leads him to Dover,where he joins Lear, who has gone mad from exposure to theelements and the anguish he has suffered at the hands of hisdaughters. The news of Lear's treatment had reached Cordelia, and the Kingof France has sent an invading force to England to help restoreLear's rights to him. In Dover, where they have landed,Cordelia finds Lear and helps to restore his sanity by lovingcare. While preparing to fight the French invaders, Goneril and Reganhave developed a passion for Edmund. But before they can doanything about it, the battle is fought. The French lose, andLear and Cordelia are taken prisoners. Edmund sends Lear and Cordelia to prison with orders for them tobe secretly killed. When Albany enters, he accuses Edmund oftreason for plotting with Goneril against him and the interestsof the state. Edmund is given the chance to defend his honor ina duel. Edgar ap...
