William Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’

Title: King LearAuthor: William ShakespeareReviewer: Moses Mubezi 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 Leah was published between 1603 and 1606.The main plot concerns Leah, an aged king of ancient Britain. He prepares to divide his kingdom among his three daughters-Regan, Goneril, and Cordielia. Leah becomes angry when Cordelia, his youngest daughter, refuses to flatter him to gain her portion of the kingdom. Leah rashly disinherits her. He also exiles his trusted adviser, Kent, for supporting Cordelia. Regan and Goneril soon show their ingratitude. They deprive Leah of his servants and finally force him to spend a night outdoors during a storm accompanied only by his jester, called the fool. Leah’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. Leah recovers his sanity and recognises her. Armies raised by the wicked sisters capture Leah and Cordelia. Meanwhile, Goneril has poisoned Regan in a bitter quarrel over a man they both love and then killed 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 realises his mistakes but too late to prevent the tragedy that results. Of the three lovely daughters, it is Cordelia who is loving. Cordelia teaches us to 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 Leah was more sinned against than sinning.Shakespeare skilfully included a subplot into the main story of Leah and his daughters. Gloucester, a noble man in Leah’s court, makes the mistake of banishing his faithful son, Edgar, and trusting his wicked son, Edmund. Edmund soon betrays his father, who is blinded by Regan’s husband. Edgar discovers his blind father and comforts him. Gloucester realises his errors and especially his lack of concern for people less fortunate than himself. The characters in Shakespeare’s plays realise their mistakes, 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. The reviewer is an educationist and publisher-