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

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Famous quotes containing the word characters:

    “The naturalistic literature of this country has reached such a state that no family of characters is considered true to life which does not include at least two hypochondriacs, one sadist, and one old man who spills food down the front of his vest.”
    —Robert Benchley (1889–1945)

    “We are like travellers using the cinders of a volcano to roast their eggs. Whilst we see that it always stands ready to clothe what we would say, we cannot avoid the question whether the characters are not significant of themselves.”
    —Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    “My characters never die screaming in rage. They attempt to pull themselves back together and go on. And that’s basically a conservative view of life.”
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