Comparisons and contrasts within King Lear

King Lear & Gloucester
Both men are easily fooled: King Lear was deceived with lies in the form of wordy flattery by his two daughters into giving them superiority and control in the Kingdom. Gloucester was easily deceived with the device of lies in the form of stories told to him by his eldest son, convincing him to give him superiority as his heir.
Both men were blessed and cursed with both bad and good children. King Lear's first two daughters and Gloucester's eldest son were villains in the plot, mean while, King Lear's last daughter and Gloucester's last son were 'the good guys'.
Both men turned against their children, and ironically in both cases it was the good child who did not deserve it. King Lear banished his daughter, the only one true to him after the lies of his other two daughters. Gloucester declared war against his son after believing the lies of his elder son. His younger son was innocent of any crime or dishonour.
Both men were elderly
Both men were very emotional. King Lear displays a lot of emotions throughout the play such as when he curses his two daughters after his unfair treatment He became depressed and distressed. Gloucester is the same when he finds out of his younger son's treachery, he resorts to violent means and is depressed distressed.
Gloucester was a servant, Lear was a King.
Gloucester loved both his sons evenly even though society deemed them unequally worthy. His elder child was illegitimate and the younger was legitimate. King Lear did not love each of his daughters the same amount even though society deemed them all equally worthy.

Kent &the Fool
Both are reasonably wise. Kent and the fool saw deception for what it was from the onset. When the two daughters lied to the king about their insincere love, both Kent and the fool expressed disapproval at the King believing them.
Both men were very loyal to the king. When the king had his downfall and was less than kind to them both, they still carried themselves as loyal servants, by his side even though so many of his servants has left him and there was the option of joining with Goneril and Regan who had more power.
Both men were very brave and vocal to the King about their dissatissfation as his decision making skills. In fact it was a constant in the speeches of fool even though there were possible consequences of being so brave. The fool was threatened to go to the stocks and whipped and Kent was banished from the kingdom.
Both men wore some form of disguise. Kent's disguise was physical; to carry himself off as an old man different to Kent, just so he may remain affiliated with the King. The fool's disguise was a little more in depth. The fool disguised himself behind his status and he presumed personality. He disguises his words of wisdom behind remarks that appear dumb and entertaining at the forefront so he may remain affiliated with the King.
The fool had a different approach than Kent. It has a greater impact and it was much more long term. The fool provided entertainment in times of deep deep sorrow for the king. In his speeches he was careful to use illustrations of his point and even when he himself was serious, he always remained in character as an entertainer. Kent was aggressive and displayed his seriousness to the king. His sternness made the King not was to listen and that landed him a place outside of the kingdom.

Edmund & Elgar
Both brothers were loved by their father.
Edgar was a respected and respectable young man in society, stemming from his legitimate status. Edmund was not a respectable person nor was he noticed amongst society stemming from his illegitimate status.
Edmund was a conniving deceitful and selfish man who turned the central axis of his life into being money and power disregarding the love that his father had for both his children and causing havoc and heartache, using his status as justification. Edgar was innocent and honest. He was noble and believed in family and the love therein. He had respect for his brother, displayed in conversations they had. He was not selfish and expressed no excessive desire to obtain his fathers possessions.

Goneril& Regan
Both sisters established themselves as liars from their opening speeches in the drama. They lie to their father and express a surmountable amount of love (beyond life itself, beyond all other joys 1:1); beyond which is even realistic, particularly since they have husbands.
Both sisters were neglected by their father and had to compete with Cordelia for his love and attention. He even blatantly declares love for Cordelia being more that his love for the others in front of them.
Both sisters were bitter towards him and took the opportunity to act it out after they had already fooled their father into letting them obtain the kingdom and all his possessions and riches. They were, in turn bitter to him when he needed them the most after banishing Cordelia, and made him feel unwelcome. They underminded his authority.
The reversal of power in the kingdom in their favour also seemed as an avenue for revenge towards their father. Carrying out acts that he was against. Exchanging somewhat harsh words with him when he had been downgraded to a powerless old man. They ignored his complaints and cared very little for his feelings. His servants were punished as well, such as placing Kent in the stocks and taking out Gloucester's eyes. Regan was more cruel that Goneril however.
Both sisters were very vain and too concerned with the material things of the world to make up for their personal value. They were married to dukes and had great possessions in Britain, however they still craved for more which brought about the chaos in the land. They both had lost sight of important things to life like love and family.

Cornwall & Albany
Both men were Dukes.
Both men were married to the daughters of King Lear.
Albany is a kind-hearted gentleman and has disputes with his wife, Goneril, for the was that she treated her father. He disagrees with his being ignored and disrespected. Cornwall was exceptionally cruel and encouraged the behaviour of his wife, Regan,being unfair to her father.
Cornwall was exceptionally greedy, even though he had position and wealth, he still craved more and seems to want to go to any extent creating conflict about the kingdom being divided and therefore, shared. Rumours start about the kingdom that Cornwall and Albany would begin a war about it.
Cornwall takes delight in cruelty. He plucks out Gloucester's eyes when he is undeserving and innocent. He rewards Edmund for treachery against the king and his father. His cruelty brought him to his end, meanwhile Albany proves to be much less greedy and cruel. He does not do such violent acts, and still has some consideration for honour.

King of Burgundy & King of France
Both men expressed a love for Cordelia and intended to pursue her hand in marriage.
Both men were Kings
Burgundy was self-centered. He already has great wealth, being a King; when Cordelia has become vulnerable and weak due to a confrontation with her father, he does not hesitate to back off of her and his desires for her hand in marriage justifying himself in say that she has nothing, suggesting he was most concerned with expanding his riches. France was a selfless man. When Cordelia was weak, neglected and banished, he stepped up to the plate and proved himself as an honest gentleman, saying that his love for her is greater than any shortcomings of what is materialistic. He still takes her hand in marriage.