Brief Plot Summary This drama is one of the great tragedy themed plays by William Shakespeare. The themes of the play cover greed, betrayal, lust for power, arrogance. pride and cruelty. King Lear, an aging monarch, is a headstrong old man who is blind to his weaknesses (pride). He decides to divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters, according to which one recites the best declaration of love. Goneril and Regan are the selfish daughters of Lear who pretend to love him but later treat him cruelly. Cordelia is the loyal and unselfish daughter who refuses to tell her father how much she loves him as she feels it is insincere. King Lear disowns Cordelia after confusing her honesty with insolence. This action acts as a catalyst for all events which follow. Lear then embarks on a journey of self discovery. The play ends with numerous characters facing death by various methods including poison and suicide.

The Tragic Hero Usually there is only one tragic hero. They experience extreme suffering and calamity They befall a conspicuous person They often have a fatal flaw in character which contributes to their own destruction. Shakespeare’s tragic hero is, at some point torn by an inward struggle or conflict No play that ends with the hero alive, in the true sense is a Shakespearean tragedy. Shakespeare’s tragic heroes will be men of rank. The hero falls unexpectedly from a high place, a place of glory, or honour, or joy. The audience is left feeling a sense of woe and of pity. His fate affects the welfare of the entire nation or empire.

The Tragic Pattern A Man of High Estate A flaw in Character Intrusion of Time and a Sense of urgency Mis-readings and Rationalizations Murder, Exile, Alienation of Enemies and Allies Gradual isolation of the Tragic Hero Mobilization of the Opposition Tragic Recognition of the flaw by the tragic Hero too late Last, courageous attempt to restore lost honor/greatness Audience recognizes potential for greatness Death of the tragic hero Restoration of order

Shakespearian Tragedy Normally we will hear about the King, Prince or man of high estate from other people in the play before he makes an entrance in the play. This is when we are given insight into the greatness of the tragic hero through the eyes of others. Within the first two Acts we are given an indication of his obsessive behaviour. The audience will also witness the inner torment he goes through in order to follow his obsession. The hero sets up his own demise. The hero operates on what he believes to be the case rather than what he actually knows to be the case. Soon they are one in the same to him. As mis-readings continue, new complications and conflicts arise which bring about the death or gradual alienation of support for the hero. By the end of the play the hero must face the opposing forces and responsibility of his actions alone. Throughout the process of alienation and isolation the character experiences rage, sleeplessness, confusion, hallucination and violence. Often the hero is confronted with an enemy in the final act who usually has good reason to kill him. The hero by now has realized his error. This is known as Tragic Recognition

HISTORICAL CONTEXT Listen to the reading on historical context and answer the questions below: What social climate was Shakespeare’s “King Lear” written in? What events created this climate? When Elizabeth I assumed the throne what were many people concerned about? Why was it crucial for a country to have a strong leader? Who tried to invade England in 1588? What would have happened had England been divided? How do you think people would have reacted to Lear’s decision to divide his kingdom?

About the Play First printed in 1608 Based on a historical event – A court case where two daughters attempted to have their father declared insane so that they might seize his estate. The younger daughter, Cordell, objected. However, accounts of King Lear surface in several texts; so, Shakespeare may have turned to other sources as well in exploring this ancient story.

About the Play Other Texts: Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae, published about 1135. Raphael Holinshed’s 1577 book, Chronicles of England. John Higgens 1574 edition of Mirror for Magistrates Edmund Spenser’s 1590 epic poem, The Faerie Queene, Sir Philip Sidney’s 1590 poem, Arcadia, The True Chronicle of King Leir is first entered into the Stationers’s register in 1594

Characters in King Lear King Lear Goneril Oswald Tom o' Bedlam Regan Cordelia Caius Curan Edmund Edgar