The Earl of Gloucester, a follower of King Lear, banishes his loyal son and heir, Edgar, because of the trickery of Edmund, his illegitimate son, who persuades Gloucester that Edgar is plotting against him. This echoes the folly of Lear, who has just given his kingdom to his evil elder daughters, Goneril and Regan, and disowned the youngest, Cordelia, who loves him. Edgar remains nearby, disguising himself as a mad beggar called Poor Tom. In this disguise he helps Lear and, later, his father, when they fall victim to the plotting of Goneril, Regan and Edmund. In fact Edgar saves his father's life; when Gloucester has been blinded and wants to throw himself over a cliff, "Poor Tom" pretends to guide him to the edge, lets him fall on the ground and then tells him he has been rescued by angels. In this way he restores his father's will to live, helps him to safety and eventually overcomes Edmund in combat.