King Lear

King Lear

King Lear is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. Here we can see the gradual madness of Lear, the aging king of Britain. He had three daughters named as- Goneril, Regan and Cordelia, whom he puts in a test before giving his kingdom in their hands. He asked them to say how much did they love him, the elder two daughters Goneril and Regan gave flattering answers to impress their father. On the other hand, the youngest and favourite daughter Cordelia of Lear remained silent and only said that she doesn’t knows how much she loves her father. On hearing her reply Lear becomes furious and disowns her. The King of France was still ready to marry Cordelia though she had nothing with her and they both went to France.

Lear soon realises that he had made a mistake in judging his daughters. He was being undermined by his elder daughters and he goes insane. He leaves his daughter’s house somehow and he was being accompanied by his Fool and Kent. Gloucester another loyal nobleman of Lear decides to help him after he had learnt about Lear’s grief. Regan and her husband Cornwall discover him helping Lear, accuse him of treason, blind him, and turn him out to wander the countryside.

In Dover, a French army lands as part of an invasion led by Cordelia in an effort to save her father. The English troops reach Dover led by Edmund, defeats Cordelia-led French. Lear and Cordelia are imprisoned.

At the end Goneril kills Regan for Edmund and commits suicide when her treachery got revealed infront of Albany, Edmund’s betrayal for Cordelia ends her upto needless execution in prison. And Lear dies in the grief of Cordelia’s death after he understood that how wrong was he in judging his three daughters. Albany, Edgar, and the elderly Kent are left to take care of the country under a cloud of sorrow and remorse.