King Lear - Characters

Characters

Lear, King of Britain
Goneril (sometimes written Gonerill or Gonoril), eldest daughter of Lear
Regan, second daughter of Lear
Cordelia, youngest daughter of Lear
Duke of Albany, husband to Goneril
Duke of Cornwall, husband to Regan
Earl of Gloucester (sometimes written as Gloster)
Earl of Kent, often appearing under the guise of Caius
Edgar, son of Gloucester

Edmund (sometimes written Edmond), illegitimate son of Gloucester
Oswald, steward to Goneril
Fool, Lear's fool or court jester (definitely not his nephew, his calling Lear nuncle is in jest)
King of France, suitor and later husband to Cordelia
Duke of Burgundy, suitor to Cordelia
Curan, a courtier
Old man, tenant of Gloucester
A Doctor, an Officer employed by Edmund, a Gentleman attending on Cordelia, a Herald, Servants to Cornwall, Knights of Lear's Train, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants

Famous quotes containing the word characters:

“Trial. A formal inquiry designed to prove and put upon record the blameless characters of judges, advocates and jurors.”
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914)

“What makes literature interesting is that it does not survive its translation. The characters in a novel are made out of the sentences. That’s what their substance is.”
—Jonathan Miller (b. 1936)

“Waxed-fleshed out-patients
Still vague from accidents,
And characters in long coats
Deep in the litter-baskets
All dodging the toad work
By being stupid or weak.”
—Philip Larkin (1922–1986)