King Lear "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is To have a thankless child!" Act I, scene iv Written: 1605 Synopsis: King Lear has three daughters: Regan, Goneril and Cordelia. Two of them are the greediest things on the planet, while the youngest is pure and good. Guess which one he mistrusts. Yep. He divides all his wealth between the two elder daughters and promptly gets thrown out on the heath for his troubles, going mad. The Earl of Gloucester is going through similar problems with his two sons: Edgar and Edmund, and is blinded. Can we just call this 'Married with Children'? Characters: • King Lear, father of three • Goneril, his daughter • Regan, his daughter • Cordelia, his daughter • Gloucester, friend to the King • Edgar, his legitimate son • Edmund, his illegitimate son • Fool, a clown Musings: "Oh how sharper than a serpents tooth is that of an ungrateful daughter!" Who else here resents the fact that parents everywhere quote Lear in time of discord? The Text of the Play: King Lear Quotes Links: Buy the Play:

Sir John Gilbert, R.A., Lear and the Fool Reviews BBC 1997 Royal Shakespeare Company 1993 Nippon Herald Films 1985 1971 Lenfilm Studio 1969 1681 >> previous reviews

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