2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
Great literary works, like their authors, will never become obsolete, and will remain beloved for many, many more years to come. One such author is William Shakespeare. "King Lear", a summary of which is given below, is one of the most famous tragedies written by him back in 1606.
So, the action takes place in Britain in the 15th century. Main characters: King Lear of Britain; the king's daughters - Goneril, Regan and Cordelia; Earl of Gloucester; Earl of Kent; Edgar is the native son of the Earl of Gloucester; Edmond is the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester; Dukes of Burgundy, Albany and Cornwall; king of France. The following is a summary of King Lear.
The old king feels that he doesn't have long to live, so he decides to divide his kingdom among his three beloved daughters. He calls them to him and asks them to tell how much they love him. Goneril and Regan fall apart in sweet but deceitful speeches, and the younger, ingenuous Cordelia honestly answers that she loves herfather, as her filial duty tells her. King Lear, the summary of the tragedy of which we are retelling to you, is not satisfied with such an answer. So he disinherits Cordelia and gives her share to Goneril and Regan.
The friend of the king, the noble Earl of Kent, is outraged by this behavior of the ruler, because of which he is exiled. The Duke of Burgundy, who claimed the hand of Cordelia, refuses to marry her, since she is now a dowry. However, she is married to the King of France. Cordelia, leaving her home, asks her sisters to take care of her father.
The Earl of Gloucester is puzzled by the current situation. He is so upset and amazed that King Lear (the summary does not allow revealing all the details) did this to his own daughter and close friend that he does not suspect that Edmond, his illegitimate son, is weaving an intrigue around him. He wants to take possession of part of the inheritance of Edgar - the legitimate son, so he “sets up” him. Edgar had to run.
Meanwhile, King Lear (a brief summary will not convey the full atmosphere of this tragedy) is visiting the eldest daughter of Goneril, who married the Duke of Albany. She treats her father disrespectfully. She even ignores her husband's reproaches. Then Lear goes to visit Regan, who has become the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. The king hopes that his middle daughter is more friendly, but soon realizes that she is even worse than Goneril. Next to Lear is always the Earl of Kent: he is devoted to the king, so he dressed beyond recognition and hired him inservice.
Further in the tragedy "King Lear", the brief content of which does not allow a detailed description of all the events, it is told that the king, realizing that he had betrayed Cordelia, the daughter who truly loved him, goes crazy. The Duke of Cornwall, before his death, rips out the eyes of the Earl of Gloucester, who, in turn, understands that his son Edgar is not to blame for anything. It turns out that Edmond is a real traitor, besides the lover of Goneril and Regan. Goneril, having learned that Edmond decided to stay with the widowed Regan, poisons her sister, after which she stabs herself. Cordelia, having learned that a misfortune happened to her father, hurries to his aid. Both she and the king are captured. The tragedy ends with Cordelia being hanged, Edgar killing Edmond, and Lear dying of grief.
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