Book reviews

King Lear
William Shakespeare Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
William Shakespeare Books
New book search
William Shakespeare Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of King Lear
""Lear" is Shakespeare's grandest (not necessarily greatest) tragedy. From the seemingly intimate conflict between father and daughters, and between brothers, the Bard draws out the mammoth issues of fate, the nature of the gods, and forgiveness. Old King Lear divides up his kingdom capriciously between his three daughters, spurns the youngest and truest on a whim, and suffers the consequences. The son of one of his advisors, Gloucester, also plots the downfall of his good brother and ineffectual but good-hearted father. The elements seem to reflect if not conspire in Lear's fall into madness, in Gloucester's betrayal by his son, yet honest and true Cordelia, Kent, and Edgar manage to wrest some justice from an unfeeling universe that cracks and crumbles at the seams. Reading this play, or seeing it performed (especially without cuts!) is an exhausting experience."
David Loftus, Resident Scholar

" King Lear decides that he is going divide his kingdom into three sections and give a section to each of his daughters. In order to decide how much land and power each daughter will get, Lear has all three make pledges of their love to him. The older two greedy daughters do so, lying to please Lear, but his favorite, so he cut her off and gave everything to his other scheming daughter and their husbands.

But after the girls get the land and the power, they no longer have any use for their father. Lear must then face the terrible mistake that he made in casting aside the only daughter who truly loved him."
Jess, Resident Scholar



Click here for more information about this book


William Shakespeare Resident Scholar Profiles

 TOP SCHOLAR:
  Megan E. Davis  

SCHOLARS: Andres Becerra  Judy Berman  Jessica Marler  Jeff Gedes  Jess  James Craver  Billy Pashaie  Gerri Mahn  Michael JR Jose  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Literature books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal story

Crime & Police story

Ethnic/regional/gender life

Exploring into the wild

Family, caring for ill

Family, loving relations

Family, struggle with

Internal struggle/realization?

Job/Profession/Status story

Kids growing up/acting up?

Political/social activism

Poverty, surviving

Pregnancy/Child rearing

Religion theme?

Romance/Romance Problems

Sports Story?

War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani



Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Sheri S. Tepper 2:51:09 AM
Billy Hayes and William Hoffer 2:12:17 AM
Terry Goodkind 1:32:24 AM
Christopher Paolini 11:29:02 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:46:42 PM
Norah Lofts 10:35:01 PM
Alex Flinn 10:18:14 PM
David Clement-Davies 10:02:30 PM
Walter Dean Myers 8:23:37 PM
Barbara Michaels 8:01:15 PM
Ray Bradbury 7:50:39 PM
V.C. Andrews 7:27:52 PM
Robert Stanek 7:05:24 PM
Angie Sage 6:57:25 PM
Melanie Craft 6:57:15 PM
Teri Woods 6:28:17 PM
Erin Hunters 6:23:52 PM
Suzanne Weyn 5:01:19 PM
Johanna Spyri 4:37:46 PM
Charlaine Harris 2:02:38 PM

More message boards