Albany

Also known as: Duke of Albany · Family: Lear's court · Role: duke · First appears: King Lear · Act I, Scene I

At the opening of King Lear, Albany is married to Goneril as King Lear divides the kingdom among younger rulers, granting her a hereditary third for “thine and Albany’s issue.” He is named Lear’s loving son, but by Act II he is set against Cornwall, and by Act III a concealed division has emerged between the two dukes, while both have borne a hard rein against King Lear.

In Act IV, Albany vows to thank Gloucester for his love toward Lear and to avenge the loss of his eyes. Before the battle in Act V, Edgar gives Albany a letter promising proof of its accusations after victory, while Edmund, Goneril, and Regan plan to use Albany in battle and arrange his death afterward. When the battle is done, Albany arrests Edmund for capital treason; afterward, he names Edgar and Kent “Friends of my soul” and entrusts them with ruling the wounded realm.

Relationship record

Life events

• Lear divides the kingdom and transfers rule and state duties to younger rulers.(King Lear · Act I, Scene I)
  • With: King Lear Goneril Regan Cornwall
  • “Know that we have divided In three our kingdom: and ’tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age; Conferring them on younger strengths”
• Lear grants Goneril a hereditary third of the kingdom for her issue with Albany.(King Lear · Act I, Scene I)
  • With: King Lear Goneril
  • “We make thee lady: to thine and Albany’s issue Be this perpetual.”
• Kent reveals a concealed division between Albany and Cornwall.(King Lear · Act III, Scene I)
  • With: Kent Cornwall
  • “There is division, Although as yet the face of it be cover’d With mutual cunning, ’twixt Albany and Cornwall;”
• Albany vows to thank Gloucester and avenge the loss of his eyes.(King Lear · Act IV, Scene II)
  • With: Gloucester
  • “Gloucester, I live To thank thee for the love thou show’dst the King, And to revenge thine eyes.”
• Albany receives a letter promising proof of its accusations after victory.(King Lear · Act V, Scene I)
  • With: Edgar
  • “Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. If you have victory, let the trumpet sound For him that brought it: wretched though I seem, I can produce a champion that will prove What is avouched there.”
• Edmund plots to use Albany in battle and arrange his death afterward.(King Lear · Act V, Scene I)
  • With: Edmund Goneril Regan
  • “Now, then, we’ll use His countenance for the battle; which being done, Let her who would be rid of him devise His speedy taking off.”
• Albany arrests Edmund for capital treason.(King Lear · Act V, Scene III)
  • With: Edmund
  • “Stay yet; hear reason: Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason; and, in thine arrest, This gilded serpent.”

King Lear · Act I, Scene I

• married with Goneril “We make thee lady: to thine and Albany’s issue Be this perpetual.”
• with King Lear (Lear identifies Albany as his son-in-law.) “Our son of Cornwall, And you, our no less loving son of Albany, We have this hour a constant will to publish Our daughters’ several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now.”

King Lear · Act II, Scene I

• enemies with Cornwall “Have you heard of no likely wars toward, ’twixt the two dukes of Cornwall and Albany?”

King Lear · Act III, Scene I

• enemies with Cornwall “There is division, Although as yet the face of it be cover’d With mutual cunning, ’twixt Albany and Cornwall;”
• with Cornwall (They are politically divided.) “There is division, Although as yet the face of it be cover’d With mutual cunning, ’twixt Albany and Cornwall;”
• enemies with King Lear (Albany is one of the two subjects described as acting against King Lear.) “Or the hard rein which both of them have borne Against the old kind King;”

King Lear · Act IV, Scene II

• married with Goneril (Goneril identifies Albany as her husband in the surrounding exchange.) “I must change names at home, and give the distaff Into my husband’s hands.”

King Lear · Act V, Scene I

• married with Goneril “She and the Duke her husband!”

King Lear · Act V, Scene III

• married with Goneril “For your claim, fair sister, I bar it in the interest of my wife; ’Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord, And I her husband contradict your bans.”
• enemies with Edmund “Stay yet; hear reason: Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason”
• friends with Edgar “Friends of my soul, you twain, Rule in this realm and the gor’d state sustain.”
• friends with Kent “Friends of my soul, you twain, Rule in this realm and the gor’d state sustain.”

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Extracted from the original text of Shakespeare's Tragedies. Made with Rho MD.