a character sketch of Earl of Kent in the Play King Lear

The Earl of Kent (Play: King Lear) The Earl of Kent is an interesting character. He remains loyal and is true to the King even when he is banished. When the King banishes Cordelia in the first scene of the play, Kent sees this as a foolish move and pleads with him to reconsider his decision. He sees the fury in Lear, when his daughter did not say what he wanted to hear, and knows …

…he was that servant and that he did this because he is and always will be loyal to Lear. He also tells Lear that his eldest two daughters were slain by their own hand. Lear takes this without emotion. When Lear dies, Albany tells Kent and Edgar to rule the state, but Kent declines and says he must follow in the footsteps of his master, so only Edgar is left to rule Lear?s lands.