Goneril is the eldest of King Lear’s three daughters and is married to the Duke of Albany. She makes a flattering speech declaring her love for her father, for which she is rewarded with a third of the kingdom to rule over with her husband. This increases to half the kingdom when her father disinherits her younger sister.

Her marriage does not seem to be a happy one. Albany does not support her in arguments with Lear regarding the behaviour of his knights. He grows increasingly disgusted by how she treats her father.

Goneril later falls in love with Edmund and plots with him to get rid of Albany so she can marry him instead.