The final act begins with Edmund speaking to Regan at their military camp near Dover. Edmund is concerned that the Duke of Albany may change his mind regarding his participation in the battle against France. After Edmund sends one of his men to Albany to ensure that Albany will come, Regan speaks to Edmund about a more personal matter.
Regan is more worried about losing Edmund than she is about losing the battle. So, she bluntly asks Edmund about his relationship with Goneril. Regan even asks Edmund if he has been “to the forfended placed” (11). The word forfended means forbidden. Regan is directly asking whether or not Edmund has been having an affair with Goneril. Such a relationship was forbidden by the Church because it would be an act of adultery. Edmund assures Regan that he has no intention of being familiar with Goneril.
Just then Goneril, the Duke of Albany, and his troops arrive. Like Regan, Goneril is more concerned about Edmund than about the upcoming battle. And like Regan, Goneril is jealous of her sister (lines 19-20).
Albany tells Regan and Edmund, “Where I
could not be honest, I never yet was valiant” (23-24). The word honest here actually means honorable. The Duke of Albany is declaring that he can only be valiant (heroic) and brave in situations of honor. He was not valiant in regards to the mistreatment of Lear and Gloucester because he felt that such actions were dishonorable. However, the situation with France is another story. France is an invading country, and the Duke of Albany is bound by honor to defend England. Even though France is providing help to Lear – “bolds the king” (26) – Albany cannot allow a foreign invader to dictate or force policies upon England. Albany realizes that Lear and the Englishmen who have joined the army of France have just cause or reason to do so. So, Albany is bothered that he must fight against Lear and other men of his own country. However, the Duke – as one of the two chief leaders of England – must protect the sovereignty and integrity of England.
Albany then asks Regan and Edmund to join him in a tent so that they can discuss the preparations for war. Edmund tells Albany that he will join them shortly because he has some other matter that he must take care of first. As Regan leaves with Albany, she insists that Goneril come with them. Regan is afraid to leave Goneril alone with Edmund. She is afraid that Goneril will seduce Edmund.
Before Albany has a chance to leave, Edgar comes up to him. Edgar is still in disguise. He hands the Duke of Albany a letter – the one written by Goneril that Edgar had taken from Oswald – and asks the Duke to read it before he fights in the battle. Edgar also asserts that, despite his appearance, he will bring forth a champion (suggesting a nobleman) who will testify that the contents of the letter are true. Again this is a subtle reference (and social criticism) that whereas a nobleman might consider the word of a commoner to be suspect or false, that nobleman would consider the word of an aristocrat to be honorable and true. Edgar tells Albany that he will come to Albany again after the battle to verify the contents of the letter. Edgar then leaves before Albany has a chance to read the letter.
After Edgar exits, Edmund appears. He had been consulting with some of his officers regarding the size and strength of the enemy forces. He tells Albany that they must act quickly, and Albany hurries off.
Edmund, now alone on the stage, reveals his own thoughts in a soliloquy. Edmund admits that he is playing one sister against the other and that he has sworn his love to both of them. However, Edmund does not really care about either sister much. To him they are just political stepping stones – they are a means by which he can rise to a higher position of power in the land. Edmund realizes that he needs the Duke of Albany to help him in the battle against France. However, after the battle is over, he also realizes that Goneril may try to get rid of her husband (by killing him but making his death look like an accident). And such a death would serve Edmund’s purposes well, for Edmund is afraid that Albany will officially pardon Lear and Cordelia (and, by extension, Gloucester) after the battle is over. A pardon would mean that they are excused from any wrongdoing against England and would be set free (not imprisoned). Of course, such a pardon would destroy Edmund’s hope for power. So, Edmund also plans to kill Lear and Cordelia (and perhaps Gloucester) before they receive any such pardon.