The drama in King Lear revolves around power struggles, betrayal, madness, and tragic consequences within Lear's family and other key characters. King Lear divides his kingdom between his daughters based on their flattery, which triggers a chain of manipulation, ambition, and violence. Edmund seduces Goneril and Regan as part of his calculated ambition to increase his own power. As the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, Edmund is an opportunist and master manipulator who uses seduction as a strategic tool. Both Goneril and Regan, ambitious sisters controlling parts of Lear’s kingdom, become enamored with Edmund because of his charm and cunning. Their desire for Edmund fuels a bitter rivalry that leads to betrayal and tragedy. Edmund seduces both sisters to secure influence and enhance his chances of rising to power. He skillfully manipulates each sister, never openly showing preference, keeping them both infatuated and competing for his favor. This battle for Edmund's affections reveals the ruthless, ambitious, and manipulative nature of Goneril and Regan. The love triangle escalates tensions among the sisters, causing them to sabotage one another, ultimately leading to Goneril poisoning Regan and then taking her own life out of jealousy and desperation. In summary, Edmund's seduction of Goneril and Regan is driven by his ambition and tactical manipulation to gain control in the kingdom, while the sisters' rivalry over him intensifies the play's overarching themes of power, betrayal, and tragedy.

The wider drama in King Lear involves Lear’s decline into madness, the loyalty and bravery of characters like Cordelia and Edgar, and the brutal consequences of betrayal and familial conflict throughout the play.