The final episode: the cataclysmic events which define this play and mark it as Shakespeare's darkest tragedy.

The penultimate episode, number 11, looks at Act 4 scene 7, and Act 5 scenes 1 and 2, a relatively quiet section between the tumultuous Act 4 scene 6 and the climax of the play.

In episode 10 I whizz through three quick scenes first - Act 4, scenes 3, 4 and 5, and then pay proper attention to the immense and complex scene 6.

Here, I look at Act 4 scene 1 in the aftermath of Gloucester's blinding, and in addressing Act 4 scene 2 give an overview of Albany's character through the play.

The notorious brutalising of Gloucester in Act 3 scene 7 opens up a consideration of images of blindness and seeing throughout the play - a key idea.

Episode 7 of King Lear scene by scene looks at Act 3 scene 4 (the second one in the storm) and scene 6 (the mock trial). Scene 5 is skipped - little to say.

We move into Act 3 with the first three scenes, and in scene 2 into the storm which dominates the central part of the play.

In this episode, I look at the very significant but very short Act 2 scene 3, followed by the much more meaty Act 2 scene 4. They are both connected by the idea ‘nothing’.

This time, three short scenes which mark Lear’s growing isolation, and a sense that darker forces are gathering strength: Act 1 scene 5, Act 2 scene 1 and Act 2 scene 2.

Act 1 scene 3 (briefly) and scene 4 are the focus this time: themes of loyalty and service, and of course of blindness, which is everywhere. Also, dog-owners look away.