Today we are going to talk about the greatest tragedy of Shakespeare “King Lear”. At first, we are going to discussing some important facts related to the play then we talk about all the important characters of King Lear and finally we discuss the summary, themes and symbols of the play. So let’s start the play and elaborate it. First of all, we are looking for some facts about the Play Wright.

Tragedy of King Lear


The tragedy of King Lear by William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is an English playwright, national poet of England, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the most famous dramatist in world. He is often called the “Bard of Avon”.

Born: April 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

 Death: April 23, 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Full title                         The tragedy of King Lear

Author                            William Shakespeare

Type of work                  play

Genre                              Tragedy

Language                        English

Time and place               written in England, 1604, 1605

Protagonist                     King Lear

Antagonist                      Lear’s daughters: GONERIL AND Regan and Edmund

Setting (time)                  Eighth century

Setting (place)                 Various location in England

Character list of King Lear

King Lear: - The aging king of Britain and the hero of the play is King Lear now he decides to divide his entire kingdom among his daughters. He is the protagonist of the play because of him the tragedy is happened. All the story of the play is moving around the kin g and at last he will become the victim of the tragedy. King Lear has absolute power and he likes to hear his praises. He has 3 daughters.

Cordelia: - Cordelia is the youngest daughter of king and she is disowned by her father for refusing to flatter him. She is loyal and truly loves her father.

Goneril: - The eldest daughter of King Lear. She is power hungry and ruthless.

Regan: - The second daughter of King Lear. She is also power hungry and ruthless.

Duke of Albany: - husband of Goneril. He does not participate in his wife’s ruthless action.

Duke of Cornwall: - Regan’s husband. He is cruel and violent. He is assists Regan and Goneril in the conspiracy.

King of France: - Cordelia\s husband.

Earl of Gloucester: - A nobleman in the court of King Lear. He is loyal to king Lear. He has 2 sons. He misjudges the right child, just like Lear.

Edgar: - the elder and the legitimate son of Gloucester. He is simple and kind hearted.

Edmund: - The illegitimate son of Gloucester. He is cunning. Power hungry and ruthless.

Earl of Kent: - A nobleman in the court of King Lear, loyal to Lear. He later disguises as Caius.

Fool: - devoted companion of King Lear.

Themes: -   The themes of this play are in various Topics. Themes are following-
  1. Justice
  2. fooling & madness
  3. Loyalty
  4. Power 
  5. Love and respect  
Plot of king Lear:-   Lear is the king of Britain. He has 3 daughters: Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. King Lear meets his old age. So he decides to retire and divide his kingdom. He calls his daughters and asks them how much they love him.  Goneril and Regan speak highly and receive their portion. Cordelia is not hypocritical. She declares that she loves him according to a daughter’s duty to a father. The king hears and becomes angry. He disowns her. In a fit of rage, he banishes her. The duke of Burgundy rejects Cordelia because she is now dowerless. The king of France understands the feeling. He takes Cordelia as his wife. The Earlof Kent takes Cordelia’ side against the king. So he also banished. The kingdom of King Lear is shared between the two sisters-Goneril and Regan. King Lear says that he will alternately stay with each of them.

The Earl of Gloucester has two sons: Edgar and Edmund. Edmund is the bastard son of Gloucester. He wants to be recognized as a rightful son of Gloucester. He convinces Gloucester that Edgar is plotting against Gloucester. After this he warns his brother Edgar that his life is in Danger. He asks his brother to flee from his father’s anger. Edgar flees and disguises himself as a Bedlam beggar, poor Tom.

Lear wants to meets Goneril and Regan. Kent is in the disguises. He insults Oswald, Goneril’s steward. King Lear takes him into his service. Goneril quarrels with her father, Lear. Lear leaves her castle and goes to Regan’s castle. Regan supports her sister. The two sisters meets Lear and asks him to dismiss some of his followers later they asks him to dismiss all of his followers. Lear leaves the castle. He faces the violent storm.  Fool and Kent are with him. He goes mad. He gives a lengthy lecture on storm. He meets poor Tom. He treats him as a counsellor.

Gloucester wants to help King Lear. He shares it with his son, Edmund. He advises Kent to take Lear to Dover. Cordelia and a French army are waiting at Dover.  Edmund informs Cornwell about Gloucester’s help to Lear. Gloucester is accused of being traitor Regan and Cornwall make Gloucester blind for his traitorous act. A servant kills Cornwell. As a poor Tom, he takes him to Dover.  Gloucester meets there with Lear. Regan continues rule with the help o Edmund.

Now the relationship of Goneril and Albany becomes worst. Distance increase between Husband and wife. Goneril shows her affection to Edmund. Edmund has a liaison with Regan. Oswald takes a letter from Goneril .The letter is for the Edmund. He meets Gloucester but fails to harm him, because he is killed by Edgar. Lear and his daughter Cordelia meets again.

Edgar leads Albany’s army. He defeats the French forces. King Lear and Cordelia are captured. Edmund gives the death order for Lear and Cordelia.

 As soon as the battles are finished, Goneril and Regan meet Edmund. Both show their felling for Edmund. Goneril gives poison to Regan because of her rivalry for Edmund. Gonril takes her own life when her husband comes to know of her betrayal. Edgar is in the disguise of a loyal knight. He challenges Edmund to a duel. He wounds him. He reveals himself. Edmund confess his crimes. An order is sent to cancel the execution of King Lear and Cordelia. But it is too late to save Cordelia from hangmen. Lear dies of a broken heart when he carries the body of Cordelia in his arms. Now it is for Albany and Edgar to reorganize the kingdom. Edgar begins to reflect on the future.