In William Shakespeare's tragedy "King Lear," Cordelia meets her end in a tragic and poignant manner. After returning to Britain with an army to rescue her father, King Lear, from the treachery of her sisters Goneril and Regan, Cordelia is captured in battle. Despite their efforts, her forces are defeated, and she is taken prisoner along with Lear.

Cordelia's fate is sealed when Edmund, who is one of the antagonists in the play, secretly orders her execution. She is hanged in prison, an act that is meant to appear as a suicide. This tragic event occurs in Act 5, Scene 3, and it deeply affects Lear, who is devastated by the loss of his beloved daughter. Lear enters with Cordelia's body in his arms, heartbroken and unable to comprehend her death, which ultimately contributes to his own demise shortly thereafter. Cordelia's death is one of the most heartrending moments in the play, symbolizing the ultimate sacrifice and the tragic consequences of betrayal and ambition.