| Introduction - The play and the image displayed in the picture
The picture is 18th century and image displayed represents the essence of the play which, we hope, will bring to life a famous scene or character from the play. King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606, and is considered one of his greatest works. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological pre-Roman king.
The settings for King Lear
The setting is England
The theme of King Lear
The play is categorized as a Tragedy
MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERS:
Lear, King of England: The tired ruler of England, his plan to divide his kingdom between his three daughters and then place his welfare in their trust leads to his humiliation and total loss of power at the hands of his cruel daughters, Regan and Goneril.
Goneril (wife to The Duke of Albany): Lear's selfish, ruthless daughter. When Lear asks her to profess her love for him before he gives her part of his kingdom, she professes great love for Lear, "Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;" (Act I, Scene I, Line 57). Yet, once Lear has given her half his kingdom, she shirks her obligations to host King Lear by making life so miserable at her castle that King Lear has no choice but to disown her.
The famous expression of the pain of thankless children originates in King Lear's comments of Goneril, when he exclaims, "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is / To have a thankless child!" (Act I, Scene IV, Line 312).
Regan (wife to The Duke of Cornwall): The second of King Lear's daughters to falsely profess her love then betray Lear. She professes that she is "made of that self metal as my sister", adding that "I profess / Myself an enemy to all other joys / Which the most precious square of sense possesses… In your dear highness' love" (Act I Scene I, Lines 71-78). She too betrays Lear, denying him her castle on the terms obliged by her as a loyal daughter.
Cordelia: Lear's youngest daughter, she refuses to profess blinding love for her father, instead offering only that which is true. When pushed by Lear to profess her love, she exclaims that "I cannot heave / My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty / According to my bond; nor more nor less" (Act I, Scene I, Line 93).
La leggenda del re Lear
Lear era un leggendario sovrano della Britannia. Il Lear "storico" sarebbe vissuto poco prima del tempo della fondazione di Roma, ossia nell'VIII secolo a.C.; secondo l'Historia regum Britanniae di Goffredo di Monmouth Lear, approssimandosi la vecchiaia, aveva deciso di dividere la Britannia fra le sue tre figlie e i mariti che egli avrebbe loro assegnati, pur mantenendo l'autorità regale.
Quando chiede loro di dichiarare l'affetto che gli portano, Cordelia, la figlia minore, disgustata dalla sfacciata adulazione delle sorelle Gonerilla e Regana, risponde che il suo affetto è quello dovuto da ogni figlia a ogni padre. Lear adirato la disereda, mentre consegna a ciascuna delle sorelle di Cordelia ed ai rispettivi mariti (Duca di Albany e Duca di Cornovaglia), metà del suo regno.
Poco dopo il Re di Francia, e cioè di un terzo della Gallia, avendo notizia della bellezza di Cordelia, la sposa rinunciando alla dote e la porta con sé. Molto tempo dopo i due governatori insorgono contro Lear e lo depongono; egli si reca allora presso la figlia in Gallia, dove viene bene accolto.
Il Re di Francia raduna un esercito e conquista l'intera Britannia, restaurando Lear sul suo trono. Dopo altri tre anni, però, in seguito alla morte sia di Lear che del Re di Francia, Cordelia rimane sola regina di Britannia. Passano altri cinque anni di pacifico governo, allorché il figlio del Duca di Albany ed il figlio del Duca di Cornovaglia si ribellano a Cordelia e dopo una lunga guerra la fanno prigioniera. La regina spodestata si suicida in carcere.
Summary of the plot or story
Lear was a mythical king of Britain, lived in VIII century B.C.. He has three daughters - Goneril who is married to the Duke of Albany, Regan, married to the Duke of Cornwall, and Cordelia who is unmarried, but has a number of suitors.
King Lear divides his kingdom amongst his three daughters and demands from each an assurance of love for him. Both Goneril, the eldest, and Regan, the middle daughter, satisfy Lear's demands and are given their portion of the land. Cordelia, the youngest daughter, refuses to participate in what she views as a false public showcase. Lear is angered by her reply and disowns her, giving her share of the kingdom to her sisters.
The Earl of Kent is disturbed by what he witnesses and tries to change the King's mind. Lear, exploding in fury at Kent's intervention, banishes him as well. One of her suitors, the King of France is so moved by Cordelia's honesty that he promises to marry her, even without a dowry.
Edmund, the bastard son of the Earl of Gloucester, plots to turn his father against his legitimate brother Edgar.
Kent, in disguise, is taken on as a servant to King Lear. Lear vows to spend alternate months with Regan and Goneril, but the two elder sisters plan to mistreat him. Arriving with his retinue at Goneril's, Lear is refused entry for his hundred knights. He curses her and departs for Regan. Goneril sends a letter to Regan and by the time Lear arrives, Regan and Cornwall have left their home. Gloucester and his house are overtaken by Regan. Edgar, who has been tricked by Edmund, flees the house fearful for his life and outlawed by his father.
Kent is put into the stocks by Regan for being rude to Oswald. When Lear is furious with Regan and Goneril for treating his servants so badly, they reply that he no longer needs any knights. Lear, Kent and the Fool leave in the night and hide in a farmhouse. They meet with Edgar, disguised as Poor Tom.
Cornwall, at the urging of Regan, blinds Gloucester for his loyalty to Lear. Edmund is lusted after by both Goneril and Regan. Cornwall is wounded by a servant. Gloucester, blind and bleeding, sets out. Edgar meets his father and guides him to Dover. When Gloucester wishes to jump from the cliff, Edgar tricks him and reveals his true identity. They meet with Lear and Cordelia, who has gathered a French army to fight for her father's kingdom.
In the fight against the armies of Regan and Goneril, Lear and Cordelia are captured. Edgar fights a battle with Edmund who is mortally wounded and reveals that he has given orders for Lear and Cordelia to be killed. Goneril, jealous of Regan's love for Edmund, poisons her sister and stabs herself. Edgar returns and tells of Gloucester's death. Lear enters with the dead body of Cordelia. Kent reveals his true identity to Lear. Believing that Cordelia is still alive, Lear dies. Albany asks Edgar and Kent to rule Britain with him.
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