Jane answers “I thought Albany was a bad guy the whole...”

Courtney asked this question about King Lear:

I thought Albany was a bad guy the whole book until the end suddenly he's acting like a good guy. Did I miss something? I thought Cornwall, Regan, Albany and Goneril were all this little baddie group.

Jane Great question! Albany is involved with Goneril, Regan, and Cornwall to a certain point, but he always stays out of the worst of their deeds, since he…moreGreat question! Albany is involved with Goneril, Regan, and Cornwall to a certain point, but he always stays out of the worst of their deeds, since he has pity on Lear and doesn't believe that the kingdom should divide; it's Goneril who wrests power from him to fight Cornwall's army. Albany is passive and doesn't have the courage to speak his mind until the end of the play, when he finally stands up against Goneril — it takes him finding out about Goneril's plan to kill him and marry Edmund to finally shake some sense into him. After that, he allies with Edgar and Kent to set things right. He's definitely an interesting character!(less)

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