King Lear: Character Profiles

Lear: King Lear, after deciding to divide his kingdom among his children, faces anguish and madness due to their betrayal.
Earl of Gloucester: The Earl of Gloucester is a central character who, like King Lear, suffers from his children’s betrayal and displays a clear understanding of the play’s binary opposition theme.
Earl of Kent: Kent is King Lear’s loyal and honest servant who, despite being banished, is dutiful to the King till the end.
Fool: The Fool, a companion to King Lear, ironically provides insight and truth through his nonsensical talk and jests.
Edgar: Edgar, initially naive and trusting, develops into a heroic figure who seeks revenge and justice for his father’s and his own suffering.
Edmund: Edmund, the illegitimate and ambitious son of the Earl of Gloucester, manipulates and betrays those around him in his quest for power.
Goneril: Goneril, King Lear’s cunning and insincere eldest daughter, manifests the play’s exploration of ingratitude and familial betrayal.
Regan: Regan, like her sister Goneril, displays deceit and cruelty in the play, laying bare the theme of evil siblings.
Cordelia: Cordelia, King Lear’s youngest daughter, embodies honesty and unconditional love even when accused of ingratitude.
Duke of Albany: Albany, Goneril’s husband, evolves from a passive character into one who opposes his wife’s evil actions and works towards justice.
Duke of Cornwall: Cornwall, as Regan’s cruel and tyrannical husband, contributes to the play’s theme of power corruption.
Minor Characters: The minor characters in King Lear, from servants to messengers, provide vital context and contribute to the progression of the main plot and themes.