EENHANA – King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare is the ever renowned English playwright and poet. William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford –upon- Avon, a market town about one hundred miles from London. King Lear was published between 1603 and 1606.
The main plot concerns Lear, an aged king of ancient Britain. He prepares to divide his kingdom among his three daughters – Regan, Goneril and Cordielia. Lear becomes angry when Cordelia, his young daughter, refuses to flatter him to gain her portion of the kingdom. Lear rashly disinherits her. He also exiles his trusted advisor, Kent, for supporting Cordelia.
Regan and Goneril soon show their ingratitude. They deprive Lear of his servants and finally force him to spend a night outdoors during a storm accompanied by only his jester, called the fool. Lear’s mind begins to snap under the strain. But as he approaches madness, he finally sees his errors and selfishness.
Cordelia, who had been living in France, returns to Britain and finds the King insane. Lear recovers his sanity and recognises her. Armies raised by the wicked sisters capture Lear and Cordelia. Meanwhile, Goneril has poisons Regan in a bitter quarrel over a man they both love and then killz herself. Order is finally restored in the kingdom. But Leah dies of a broken heart as he kneels over the body of Cordelia. The aged king realizses his mistakes but too late to prevent the tragedy that results. Of the three lovely daughters, it is Cordelia who is loving.
Cordeila teaches us the love according to our bond with no strings attached and that love for our parents cannot be bought. The question that many think about is whether Lear has sinned more than sinning?
Shakespeare skillfully includes a subplot into the main story of Lear and his daughters. Gloucester, a noble man in Lear’s court, makes the mistake of banishing his faithful son, Edgar, and trusting his wicked son, Edmund. Edmund soon betrays his blind father ad comforts him. Gloucester realises his errors and especially his lack of concern for people less fortunate than himself.
The characters in Shakespeare’s play realied their mistake, which reflects Shakespeare’s basic optimism. But they do so too late to prevent their destruction and that of the people around them. This fact is at the heart of Shakespeare’s tragic view of humanity.
By Clemence Tashaya