King Lear

Play Written by: William Shakespeare

Deborah Andrews, Leticia Rocha, Rupal Nayi, and Jazmine King

Background of play

• Was written between 1603 and 1606

• Was a tragedy

• It was originally written with a happy ending

• Some people liked it so much and tried to make a sequel to it

Introduction to characters King Lear:

•King of Britain•He doesn’t know

how to split up his

country to his 3

daughters.•Foolish and

miserable

Cordelia:•King Lear’s youngest

and nicest daughter •She doesn’t have any

words to say how

much she loves

her father and

that annoys him.•Loving and Caring

Goneril:•King Lear’s oldest daughter •She and her sister, Regan, are fighting over Edmund.•Evil and selfish

Regan:

-King Lear’s middle daughter.

-She cheats on her husband and fights over Edmund with Goneril.

-Heartless and evil

King Lear was resigning his throne and had to divide his land between his three daughters.

Britain

He asked all his daughters to tell him how much they loved him in order to divide his kingdom. The two older sisters lied and said they loved him when they didn’t. The youngest couldn’t tell him how much she loved him and didn’t get any land.

The king disowns Cordelia thinking she didn’t love him.

King Lear noticed he made a mistake and tries to reverse it but can’t. Since the daughters won’t give his land back, he gets mad.

Cordelia is hanged and killed by orders of Edmund. Reagan gets poisoned by Goneril and Goneril gets stabbed by Reagan. The king dies of a broken heart.

15th -16th century

Summary in Iambic Pentameter• King Lear lived in Britain with his daughters• One day he decided he was too old• He then decided to resign his throne• He asked his daughters to declare their love• When they did, the two older sisters lied• They said they loved him when they really don’t• But the youngest could not exclaim her love• She loved him so much and couldn’t say it• With that said, King Lear disowned his daughter• He quickly learns that he made a mistake• The two evil sisters are now rulers• After a series of events it ends• Regan and Goneril kill each other• Cordelia was murdered by a guard• And so, the king died of a broken heart

Act 1 Scene 1 • KING LEAR - Since now we will

divest us both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state,-- Which of you shall we say doth love us most?

• GONERIL - Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty; Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

• KING LEAR - We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue. Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

• REGAN - Sir, I am made Of the self-same metal that my sister is, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I find she names my very deed of love; Only she comes too short.

• KING LEAR– My daughters, since I’m about to give up my throne and the worries that go along with it, tell me which one of you loves me most.

• GONERIL- Sir, I love you more than words can say. I love you more than eyesight, space, and freedom; beyond wealth or anything of value.

• KING LEAR - This land will belong to your and Albany’s children forever.—And now what does my second daughter Regan, the wife of Cornwall, have to say?

• REGAN - Sir, I’m made of the same stuff as my sister and consider myself just as good as she is. She’s described my feelings of love for you precisely, but her description falls a little short of the truth.

Scene title • KING LEAR - To thee and thine

hereditary ever Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom; No less in space, validity, and pleasure, A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.

• CORDELIA -  Nothing, my lord. • KING LEAR - Nothing! • CORDELIA - Nothing. • KING LEAR - Nothing will come of

nothing: speak again. • CORDELIA - Unhappy that I am, I

cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more nor less.

• KING LEAR - You and your heirs hereby receive this large third of our lovely kingdom, no smaller in area or value than what I gave Goneril. Now, you, my youngest daughter, my joy, speak.

• CORDELIA - Nothing, my lord.• KING LEAR- Nothing?• Cordelia - Nothing.• KING LEAR - Come on, “nothing”

will get you nothing. Try again.• CORDELIA - I’m unlucky. I don’t

have a talent for putting my heart’s feelings into words. I love you as a child should love her father, neither more nor less.