Theater: King Lear

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King Lear is widely regarded as William Shakespeare's crowning artistic achievement. Shakespeare took his main plot line of an aged monarch abused by his children from a folk tale that appeared first in written form in the 12th century and was based on spoken stories that originated much further into the Middle Ages.

The part of King Lear has been played by many great actors and is generally considered a role to be taken on only by those who have reached an advanced age. In Shakespeare's Lear, a tragedy is of such consuming force that the audiences and readers are left to wonder whether there is any meaning to the physical and moral carnage with which King Lear concludes.

The play begins with King Lear deciding to retire from the throne and dividing his kingdom equally among his three daughters: Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. The two elder sisters are married, but Cordelia is much sought after as a bride, partly because she is her father's favorite. However, when Lear attempts to auction off his kingdom to the most admiring and flattering of his daughters, the plan backfires. Cordelia refuses to flatter her father like her elder sisters, as she feels it would only degrade her true feelings. Lear, in a fit of rage, divides her share of the kingdom between Goneril and Regan, and banishes Cordelia. The King of France however marries her even after she has been disinherited, this maybe because he sees value in her honesty or as a medium to subsequently invade England.

Soon after Lear abdicates the throne, he finds that Goneril and Regan have betrayed him. The Earl of Kent, who had spoken up for Cordelia and was banished for his pains, returns disguised as the servant Caius who will "eat no fish", in order to protect the king, to whom he is still loyal. Meanwhile, Goneril and Regan quarrel over their attraction to Edmund and are forced to deal with an army from France, led by Cordelia who wants to restore Lear to his throne. Eventually Goneril poisons Regan over their differences and stabs herself when Edmund is wounded.

Another subplot involves the Earl of Gloucester two sons, the good Edgar and the evil Edmund are at loggerheads. The bastard Edmund having spread false stories about his legitimate half-brother. Edgar is forced into exile. Edmund engages in liaisons with Goneril and Regan, and Gloucester is blinded by Regan's husband, but is saved from death by Edgar, whose voice he fails to recognize.

Lear appears in Dover, where he wanders about raving and talking to mice. Gloucester attempts to throw himself from a cliff, but is deceived by Edgar and comes off safely, encountering the King shortly after. The play concludes with the death of Cordelia and Lear.

Watch one of Shakespeare's greatest plays. This tragedy has been widely acclaimed by critics and you would not want to miss an opportunity to see it. Contact your on line ticket vendor and get the tickets.