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Goneril is a character in William Shakespeare's tragic play King Lear (1605). She is the eldest of King Lear 's three daughters. Along with her sister Regan , Goneril is considered a villain , obsessed with power and overthrowing her elderly father as ruler of the kingdom of Britain.
Goneril and Regan are, in a sense, personifications of evil—they have no conscience, only appetite. It is this greedy ambition that enables them to crush all opposition and make themselves mistresses of Britain. Ultimately, however, this same appetite brings about their undoing.
Goneril is Lear's eldest daughter who betrays and plots against him. She defies the natural order of respect and love, and later becomes cruel and bloodthirsty in her pursuit of power.
Goneril. Lear’s ruthless oldest daughter and the wife of the duke of Albany. Goneril is jealous, treacherous, and amoral. Shakespeare’s audience would have been particularly shocked at Goneril’s aggressiveness, a quality that it would not have expected in a female character.
Goneril is Lear's vicious older daughter who plots against him and her sister Regan. Learn about her quotes, themes, and contrast with Albany and Edmund.
Learn about the characters and themes of King Lear through the quotes of Goneril and Regan, Lear's ungrateful daughters. See how they expose Lear's flaws, challenge his authority, and manipulate his love.
Goneril is one of Lear's wicked daughters who betrays and abuses him. Learn about her motives, actions, and fate in this comprehensive character analysis from Shmoop.
