Note: Many editions of King Lear, including The Norton Shakespeare, divide Act 2 into four scenes. Other editions divide Act 2 into
only two scenes.
Summary: Act 2, scene 1
In Gloucester’s castle, Gloucester’s servant Curan tells
Edmund that he has informed Gloucester that the duke of Cornwall
and his wife, Regan, are coming to the castle that very night. Curan
also mentions vague rumors about trouble brewing between the duke
of Cornwall and the duke of Albany.
Edmund is delighted to hear of Cornwall’s visit, realizing
that he can make use of him in his scheme to get rid of Edgar. Edmund
calls Edgar out of his hiding place and tells him that Cornwall
is angry with him for being on Albany’s side of their disagreement.
Edgar has no idea what Edmund is talking about. Edmund tells Edgar
further that Gloucester has discovered his hiding place and that
he ought to flee the house immediately under cover of night. When
he hears Gloucester coming, Edmund draws his sword and pretends
to fight with Edgar, while Edgar runs away. Edmund cuts his arm
with his sword and lies to Gloucester, telling him that Edgar wanted
him to join in a plot against Gloucester’s life and that Edgar tried
to kill him for refusing. The unhappy Gloucester praises Edmund
and vows to pursue Edgar, sending men out to search for him.
Cornwall and Regan arrive at Gloucester’s house.
They believe Edmund’s lies about Edgar, and Regan asks if Edgar
is one of the disorderly knights that attend Lear. Edmund replies
that he is, and Regan speculates further that these knights put
Edgar up to the idea of killing Gloucester in order to acquire Gloucester’s
wealth. Regan then asks Gloucester for his advice in answering letters
from Lear and Goneril.
Read a translation of
Act 2, scene 1 →
Summary: Act 2, scene 2
Outside Gloucester’s castle, Kent, still in peasant disguise,
meets Oswald, the chief steward of Goneril’s household. Oswald doesn’t recognize
Kent from their scuffle in Act 1, scene 4. Kent roundly abuses
Oswald, describing him as cowardly, vain, boastful, overdressed,
servile, and groveling. Oswald still maintains that he doesn’t know
Kent; Kent draws his sword and attacks him.
Oswald’s cries for help bring Cornwall, Regan,
and Gloucester. Kent replies rudely to their calls for explanation,
and Cornwall orders him to be punished in the stocks, a wooden device
that shackles a person’s ankles and renders him immobile. Gloucester
objects that this humiliating punishment of Lear’s messenger will
be seen as disrespectful of Lear himself and that the former king
will take offense. But Cornwall and Regan maintain that Kent deserves
this treatment for assaulting Goneril’s servant, and they put him
in the stocks.
After everyone leaves, Kent reads a letter that he has
received from Cordelia in which she promises that she will find
some way, from her current position in France, to help improve conditions
in Britain. The unhappy and resigned Kent dozes off in the stocks.
