Chapters
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THE TRAGEDY OF KING LEAR
Scene: - Britain. - ACT I. Scene I. \[King Lear's Palace.\]
This Etext file is presented by Project Gutenberg, in
Scene II. The Earl of Gloucester's Castle.
Scene III. The Duke of Albany's Palace.
Scene IV. The Duke of Albany's Palace.
Scene V. Court before the Duke of Albany's Palace.
Description
An aging king, weary after decades of rule, decides to hand over his realm to his three daughters, hoping to secure a peaceful succession. He asks each to proclaim her love for him, believing flattery will reveal the truest heir. The eldest and middle daughters lavish him with grandiose declarations, while the youngest, honest and modest, refuses to partake in the contest.
Blinded by egotism, the sovereign divides his kingdom based on the false praises, sparking bitter resentment from his most loyal child and sowing seeds of betrayal among the older sisters and their ambitious husbands. As the king’s authority wanes, his once‑faithful subjects begin to question his judgment, and distant allies are drawn into the growing conflict. The stage is set for a heartbreaking descent into madness, loyalty tested, and the tragic consequences of pride.
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Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (161K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
1999-06-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
About the author
William Shakespeare
1564–1616
A playwright, poet, and actor from Stratford-upon-Avon, he created characters and lines that have stayed alive for more than four centuries. His stories of love, ambition, jealousy, power, and forgiveness still feel startlingly human.
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