A - Albany

The Duke of Albany is Goneril’s husband and a nobleman who grows into a moral voice throughout the play. The Duke of Albany starts as passive but later stands up against Goneril’s cruelty.

B - Blindness

Blindness is a major theme in King Lear. Both literal and figurative blindness appear Lear  and Gloucester both fail to see the truth about those around them. Lear is blind to who truly loves him, and Gloucester is blinded.

C - Cordelia

Cordelia is Lear’s youngest and honest daughter, who values truth over flattery. Lear’s honest and loving daughter, who refuses to flatter him. Her truthfulness costs her inheritance but proves her virtue.

D - Deception

Deception is a major theme in King Lear. Goneril, Regan, and Edmund all lie and decieve their fathers respectively to gain power. 

E - Edmund

Edmund is Gloucester’s illegitimate son who manipulates and deceives people to gain power. 

F - Fool

The Fool is Lear’s court jester, who uses humor to speak truth and warn the king. The Fool  speaks truth through humor and riddles, guiding Lear toward self-awareness.

G - Goneril

Goneril is Lear’s eldest daughter, whose flattery hides her cruelty and ambition. Lear’s eldest daughter, whose flattering words hide her ambition and cruelty.

H - Health

Throughout the play, Lear's physical and mental Health deteriorates due to his old age, causing him to act out and eventually loose his memory.

I - Inheretance

Inheritance is the division of Lear’s kingdom among his daughters and the sole thing driving Edmund is trying to obtain. Lear’s decision to divide his kingdom among his daughters causes the chaos that destroys the family and kingdom and Edmund attempts to manipulate Gloucester. 

J - Justice

Justice is explored through the suffering of virtuous characters and the temporary success of villains. The play questions whether justice truly exists, as good people like Cordelia suffer while villains briefly succeed.

K - Kent

Kent is Lear’s loyal nobleman who disguises himself to continue serving the king. Lear’s loyal servant who disguises himself to continue protecting the king after being banished.

L - Lear

Lear is the king whose pride and rash decisions lead to his tragic downfall. His pride and poor judgment lead to his downfall and eventual death.

M - Madness

Madness reflects Lear’s suffering and growing self-awareness. Lear’s descent into madness reflects his growing awareness of truth and human weakness.

N - Nature

Human nature in King Lear is shown through greed, pride, love, and betrayal, revealing both the cruelty and compassion people are capable of.

O - Order

Order is disrupted by Lear’s decision to divide his kingdom, creating political and familial chaos. Lear’s decision to divide his kingdom disrupts natural and political order, creating chaos.

P - Power

Power motivates characters like Goneril, Regan, and Edmund, driving ambition and betrayal. Characters like Goneril, Regan, and Edmund crave power, showing how ambition leads to destruction.