King Lear

Synopsis

King Lear, an aging monarch, decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters: Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia, based on their professions of love for him. Goneril and Regan, who deceitfully flatter Lear, are rewarded, while Cordelia, who genuinely loves him but refuses to flatter excessively, is disinherited and banished. As Lear divides his kingdom, he unwittingly sows the seeds of his downfall. Goneril and Regan turn against him, stripping him of power and dignity. Lear descends into madness amidst a fierce storm, grappling with his own identity and the nature of humanity. Meanwhile, the subplot involving Gloucester and his sons, Edgar and Edmund, mirrors Lear’s tragedy. Gloucester is betrayed by Edmund and blinded, while Edgar remains loyal, eventually leading to a poignant reunion. The play culminates in a tragic convergence of both plots, leading to the deaths of Lear, Cordelia, and several other key characters, leaving a devastated kingdom in their wake.