Character guide

King Lear

major

Also known as Lear, King Lear Ay, King Lear Regan, King Lear Prithee, King Lear Ha, King Lear Darkness, King Lear My lord of Burgundy, King Lear True, King Lear Thou, King Lear By Jupiter, King Lear Deny

The aging king of Britain whose decision to divide his kingdom triggers tragedy.

Edmund

major

Also known as Edmund Sir, Edmund Brother, brother Edmund, Edmund Come, Cornwall Edmund, Edmund Earl of Gloucester, Captain Edmund, Edmund That, Edmund Bethink

Gloucester's ambitious bastard son who schemes to usurp his legitimate brother.

Edgar

major

Also known as Exit Edgar, Edgar Hail, Poor Tom, Tom, Enter Edgar, Edgar Away, Edgar Poor Tom, Edgar Tom, poor mad Tom, Legitimate Edgar, Edgar Armed, Edgar Ay, Edgar Child Rowland, Edgar Frateretto, Edgar The foul fiend, Edgar Pillicock, Edgar Sweet marjoram

Gloucester's legitimate son who disguises himself as Poor Tom to survive.

Goneril

major

Also known as Enter Goneril, Albany O Goneril, Goneril Sister, Goneril Holla, Goneril Aside, Goneril Marry, Goneril Sir

Lear's eldest daughter who flatters him then betrays him for power.

Regan

major

Also known as Regan Sir, Regan Ingrateful fox, O Regan, Regan Lord Edmund, Regan Sister, Regan Sick, Regan Lady

Lear's middle daughter who joins Goneril in cruelty and rivalry.

Cordelia

major

Also known as Cordelia Aside, Cordelia Sir, Cordelia Alack, Alack, Cordelia Peace, Cordelia Time, Cordelia⁠

Lear's youngest daughter who refuses to flatter him and is disowned.

Kent

supporting

Also known as King Lear Kent, Kent O, Kent Ay, Kent No contraries, Kent Good, Kent Oppressed nature, Kent Sir, Kent Of Albany, Kent Kneeling, Kent Alack, Old man Alack, Kent Sirrah, Caius

Loyal nobleman who disguises himself as Caius to serve Lear after banishment.

Gloucester

supporting

Also known as Gloucester Sir, noble Gloucester, the traitor Gloucester, Gloucester He that will think to live till he be old, O poor Gloucester, Gloucester Alack

Earl whose blindness to Edmund's treachery leads to his own tragic downfall.

Albany

supporting

Also known as Albany O Goneril, Albany Sir, Albany The, Albany Who, Albany Who dead, Albany Gloucester, Albany Cornwall

Goneril's husband who eventually opposes her cruelty and Edmund's plot.

Fool

supporting

Also known as Fool Sirrah, sirrah, Fool Lear, Fool Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, Fool Singing

Lear's court jester who offers bitter truths through riddles and songs.

Oswald

supporting

Also known as Oswald Madam, Exit Oswald, Oswald Help, Reenter Oswald, Oswald Prithee, Oswald Away, Oswald Slave

Goneril's steward who carries out her orders and antagonizes Kent.

Cornwall

supporting

Also known as Cornwall Edmund, Albany Cornwall

Regan's husband who brutally blinds Gloucester and meets a violent end.

Curan

minor

A courtier who informs Edmund of impending conflict between Albany and Cornwall.

Doctor

minor

Also known as Doctor Madam

Physician who attends to the mad King Lear and advises Cordelia.

Captain

minor

Also known as Captain Edmund, Captain

Officer under Edmund who is ordered to execute Cordelia and Lear.

Herald

minor

Official who proclaims the tournament challenge for Edmund's trial.

Messenger

minor

Also known as Messenger A servant that he bred, Messenger Ay

Bearer of news about Cornwall's death and other battlefield events.

Servants

minor

Also known as servants

Attendants who witness and react to the blinding of Gloucester.