Along with her sister Regan, Goneril is considered a villain, obsessed with power and overthrowing her elderly father as ruler of the kingdom of Britain.

[1] Shakespeare based the character on Gonorilla, a personage described by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his pseudo-historical chronicle Historia regum Britanniae ("History of the Kings of Britain", c. 1138) as the eldest of the British king Lear's three daughters, alongside Regan and Cordeilla (the source for Cordelia) and the mother of Marganus.

Without a male heir, Lear is prepared to divide his kingdom among his three daughters as long as they express their true love to him.

Knowing her response will get her closer to the throne, Goneril professes, "Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter" (1.1.

She finally begins to let go of the persona of an obedient and loving daughter when Lear goes to stay with her and her husband.

Goneril, the wife of the Duke of Albany (an archaic name for Scotland), has an intimate relationship with Edmund, one that may have been played up in the earlier editions of King Lear.

In the final act, Goneril discovers that Regan desires Edmund as well and poisons her sister's drink, killing her.