Cornwall

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

At the division of the kingdom, Cornwall is married to Regan and receives with her a hereditary third of the realm as King Lear transfers rule and state duties to younger rulers. King Lear addresses him as a son, while Cornwall’s marriage places him within Lear’s court and alongside Albany, with whom he later becomes an enemy.

In Act II, Cornwall accepts Edmund into his service for his apparent virtue and obedience. Gloucester regards Cornwall as his patron and noble friend, but Cornwall admits placing Kent in the stocks. A concealed division grows between Cornwall and Albany, while both bear a hard rein against King Lear; Cornwall then rewards Edmund by making him Earl of Gloucester and directing him to prepare for Gloucester’s apprehension: “True or false, it hath made thee Earl of Gloucester.”

After learning that the French army has landed, Cornwall and Regan seize and bind Gloucester. Cornwall orders, “Bind him, I say. [Servants bind him.]” and removes both of Gloucester’s eyes; when the First Servant resists the attack that would blind Gloucester, he wounds Cornwall. Cornwall dies in Act IV, Scene II, after the servant’s attack.