King Lear
(Shakespeare)
King Lear hails as one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies. The principal antagonist, Lear, is getting on in years and seeks to divide his kingdom amongst hist three daughters so that he may retire and crawl unburdened toward death. Unfortunately, he chooses a very poor means of choosing how he will perform this and asks his daughters to each give a verbal statement of their love. This of course is superficial in the utmost and his first two daughters lie and declare absolutely impossible and wild declarations of their affections. He reserves the last position for his youngest and favorite daughter, Cordelia, who is honest and good and refuses to partake in this foolishness. She answers with the famous "nothing" to his promptings and in a rage, Lear cuts her off from everything, and she leaves for France with her husband. Later, the two sisters start plotting and they reduce what Lear has to almost nothing. He is incensed and heartbroken and becomes driven to madness at their cruelty. At the same time, there is a subplot as one of Lear's most faithful servants, Gloucester, has filial troubles of his own. He has two sons, one of whom is illegitimate and cannot inherit. That son, Edmund, begins to plot his brother's downfall. Gloucester believes Edmund's lies and casts off Edgar, the rightful heir. The plot thickens as Edmund works together with Goneril and Regan, Lear's evil daughters and plot against both their fathers. Gloucester evetually has his eyes gouged out and is on the point of committing suicide. It is the faithful Edgar who rescues him from the brink of death. Of course, the story is a tragedy so you may guess at what unfolds, I won't give away all. Prepare to have the best Shakespeare read of your life though! There are so many thematic elements going on here reversals on nature, private vs. public domains, nihilistic elements etc. It must be read many times to be fully appreciated.
Resumos Relacionados
- King Lear
- King Lear
- Power, Love And Self-discovery In King Lear
- Power, Love And Self-discovery In King Lear
- King Lear
|
|
