King Lear, enraged by Cordelia's refusal to flatter him, disinherits her. Kent attempts to intervene, urging Lear to reconsider his rash decision and see the truth in Cordelia's honesty. Lear, however, is unyielding and banishes Kent for his defiance.
KENT
0134Good my liege—
LEAR
0135Peace, Kent.
0136Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
0137I loved her most and thought to set my rest
0138On her kind nursery.⌜To Cordelia.⌝ Hence and avoid
0139my sight!—
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Director's Notes
King Lear audition scene: Lear banishes Kent. This intense Shakespearean drama duologue features Lear's rage and Kent's plea for reason. Perfect for actors seeking powerful medieval drama audition material.
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More from King Lear
Act III, Scene 2 — Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks
from King Lear
King Lear, having been cast out by his daughters, wanders into a violent storm. He rages against the elements, demanding that the weather destroy the world and the 'ingrateful' nature of humanity.
Lear's Awakening and Reconciliation
from King Lear
An aging king, recovering from a descent into madness, awakens to find his estranged daughter Cordelia by his side. He struggles with his fading memory and deep-seated guilt, eventually begging for her forgiveness in a moment of profound vulnerability.
Edmund's Declaration of Nature
from King Lear
Edmund, the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, rejects the societal laws that brand him as inferior due to his birth. He vows to overthrow his legitimate brother Edgar and seize his inheritance through a cunning deception, appealing to nature to favor his ambition.
Lear disowns Cordelia
from King Lear
King Lear demands Cordelia declare her love for him to receive her inheritance. Cordelia, unwilling to flatter him, states her love is according to her duty, leading Lear to disinherit and disown her in a fit of rage.
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