King Lear, Act 3, Scene 3 summary
Act 3, Scene 3 of 26 · 2 min to read the scene
In Act 3, Scene 3, Gloucester tells Edmund about a secret letter, an army landing, and his decision to help the King despite threats against him. Edmund decides to report his father's actions to the Duke, hoping to gain everything Gloucester loses.
What happens
- Gloucester tells Edmund that his attempts to show pity cost him control of his house and bring orders against helping the King.
- Gloucester reveals a split between the Dukes, a secret letter, and news that part of an army has landed.
- He leaves to find the King, asking Edmund to distract the Duke and explain his absence as illness.
- Edmund decides to reveal Gloucester's help and the letter to the Duke, hoping to gain his father's possessions.
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In this scene
What to notice
Edmund presents his father's possible downfall as his own opportunity. The line makes his motive for betrayal explicit.
Quick check
What does Gloucester ask Edmund to do while he helps the King?
Cite this page
“King Lear, Act 3, Scene 3 summary.” Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/pages/king-lear-act-3-scene-3-summary.
Library of Alexandria. (2026). King Lear, Act 3, Scene 3 summary. https://libraryofalexandria.com/pages/king-lear-act-3-scene-3-summary
“King Lear, Act 3, Scene 3 summary.” Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/pages/king-lear-act-3-scene-3-summary.
@misc{king_lear_act_3_scene_3_summary_2026,
title = {King Lear, Act 3, Scene 3 summary},
publisher = {Library of Alexandria},
year = {2026},
url = {https://libraryofalexandria.com/pages/king-lear-act-3-scene-3-summary}
}
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