King Lear by William Shakespeare

Description

King Lear is a tragic drama by William Shakespeare, first performed in 1606, that explores power, loyalty, and the devastating consequences of pride. The play follows an ageing monarch who decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, basing their inheritance on public declarations of love. When the youngest refuses to flatter him, she is disowned, setting in motion a chain of political and personal catastrophes that ripple across the realm. As authority slips from his grasp, Lear is forced to confront the harsh realities of betrayal and ingratitude. His elder daughters, Goneril and Regan, quickly reveal their true nature, stripping him of dignity, shelter, and sanity. Parallel to Lear’s downfall runs the story of the Earl of Gloucester and his sons, Edgar and Edmund, a subplot that mirrors the play’s central concerns with deception, blindness, and misplaced trust. Set against a backdrop of civil unrest and moral collapse, the play charts Lear’s gradual awakening as he endures madness, exile, and exposure to the natural world. Shakespeare uses storm imagery, stark dialogue, and raw emotional conflict to strip away illusions of authority and status, revealing what remains when power is lost. Widely regarded as one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, King Lear is a profound examination of human frailty, justice, and suffering. Its themes of family conflict, ageing, and the abuse of power remain strikingly relevant, making it essential reading for lovers of classic drama and serious literature.

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Formats: PDF, epub, AZW3
Page Count (PDF): 119
Illustrations: No
Note: Many of the books available here were first published generations ago. Care has been taken to produce clear, readable files, but occasional imperfections may remain. Minor irregularities are part of the character of older texts.