In the play, King Lear, by William Shakespeare, the playwright employs the motif of disguise both figuratively and literally to characterize the good and evil nature of characters such as Kent and Lear’s daughters. Shakespeare shows Kent’s loyalty and also uncovers Goneril and Regan’s evil that they dissimulate with flattery and kindness. Throughout the tragedy, Kent shows time and time again his allegiance to Lear. A prime example occurs after Lear makes the brash decision to banish Kent from his kingdom even though he gives sound advice. Instead of pouting and potentially conspiring against Lear like Goneril and Regan, Kent decides to do the noble thing by serving the king. To help, Kent descends in rank from an Earl to a disguised lowly