Introduction: the problem with Lear -- The trial : Goneril, politician and appeaser (Act 1, Scene 1) -- The trial : Regan, soldier and enabler (Act 1, Scene 1) -- The trial : Cordelia, heir apparent and zealot (Act 1, Scene 1) -- Goneril makes her stand : queen and mother (Act 1, Scenes 3 and 4) -- The sisters unite : kingship and kinship (Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2) -- Regan and torture : abuser and abused (Act 3, Scene 7) -- The sisters and Edmund : agency and sexuality (Act 4, Scenes 2 and 4 (q 4.5)) -- Cordelia returns : sinner and saint (Act 4, Scenes 3 (q 4.4) and 7) -- Homeland security : defeat and denial (Act 5, Scenes 1, 2, and 3 (Cordelia)) -- Patriarchy restored : duplicity and death (Act 5, Scene 3 (Goneril and Regan)).