King Lear Study Guide
A magnificent tragedy “King Lear” by William Shakespeare laid grounds for many great theatre plays, movies, and stories. There have been numerous adaptations and interpretations for the play, but its original version remains the most popular among the readers.
The main character of the play is a British monarch of the same name. He is old and wants to hand over the reigns of the country to his three daughters. But the ruler gets caught in the flatteries and doesn't make the decision rationally.
Having divided the land among the two of his daughters and having lost his youngest daughter who moved to France without the father’s blessing, the king is slowly going mad. His younger daughter Cordelia will reappear later trying to save her father with a couple thousands of French army behind her, but only to be betrayed, imprisoned and executed.
The question of family relations, loyalty, and mutual understanding is crucial for the play. While there’s a betrayal of children to their father, there’s also a question of upbringing and being a role model. Imagine a situation in which the parents have already lost control over their mind and possessions, yet their children haven’t learned to be smart and responsible.
The children want to be free and powerful. Because their parents want to see them free and powerful. Shakespeare shows that what we teach our younger ones may as well turn against us. There’s a place only for one leader of the family or country and the fight for this place is inevitable.
The vanity could as well be a protagonist of the play. It is typical for the young family members as well as for the father, who wanted to remain King after handing over the crown. The rhetoric of the text invokes in the readers deep thoughts on making and following right decisions, being sure about one’s intentions and knowing exactly what you want from life.
Author: Angel Bell
New Essays
Shakespeare's King Lear is a play which shows the consequences of one man's decisions. The audience follows the main character, Lear, as he makes decisions that disrupt order in his Kingdom. When Lear surrenders all his power and land to his daughters as a reward for their demonstration of love...
The play of "King Lear" is about a person in search of their own personal identity. In the historical period in which this play is set, the social structure was set in order of things closest to Heaven. Therefore, on Earth, the king was at the top, followed by his noblemen and going all the way...
In Act 1, Scene 1 Kent says, "See better, Lear. " How does Lear ? see' more clearly by Act V Scene 3, and what has led him to this? King Lear of Britain, the ageing protagonist in Shakespeare's tragic play undergoes radical change as a man, father and king as the plot progresses when forced to...
King Lear—A Man More Sinned Against Than Sinning? A King is supposed to have all that he needs without having to worry about anything in his late years. Yet King Lear, in Act 3, Scene 2, cried out in pitifully: “I am a man / More sinned against than sinning. ” Although Lear has...