King Lear Chapter Summary & Analysis - Act 1, Scene 5 Summary

Act 1, Scene 5 Summary

Lear, not realizing that Goneril has sent her own letter, sends Kent to his daughter Regan's house with a letter to announce his arrival and tell her what has happened. The Fool warns Lear that he should not expect better treatment from Regan. The Fool again reprimands Lear for giving away his fortune to his daughters and calls Lear a fool. Lear and his retinue depart for Regan's house.

Act 1, Scene 5 Analysis

The final scene of the first act shows the departure of Lear for his second daughter's house. This scene gives the Fool an opportunity to continue harassing Lear about his mistakes. The Fool compares Lear giving away his kingdom to a snail giving away its shell and leaving itself with nothing, and he says, "Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise" (lines 44-45).