William Shakespeare's play King Lear tells the tale of the main.
character who divides his kingdom between his older daughters, Goeneril and.
Regan, and disinherits his youngest daughter, Cordelia. The action leads to.
civil strife, his insanity, and his ultimate death. King Lear can be viewed.
as a great illustration about the struggle between good and evil. Perhaps.
better than any of Shakespeare's other tragedies, King Lear displays the.
concept of evil most strongly.
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It is believed that King Lear is an expansion of a British legend.
The legend is as follows: Lear, King of Britain decided in his old age to.
divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on their expressions of.
love for him. His two eldest daughters overwhelmed their father with.
expressions of love, but the youngest told her father that she loved her.
father as a daughter should. Enraged at his youngest daughter's reply, Lear.
drove her into exile and divided the kingdom between his two eldest.
daughters. However, his two eldest daughters infuriated him with their.
cruel treatment thereafter. Hence, the king went in search of his youngest.
daughter. His youngest daughter had married the king of France while she.
was gone. His youngest daughter returned with him two Britain and helped.
him to regain hi throne.
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Shakespeare utilized this British legend to create what is arguably.
one of the greatest tragedies of all time. Shakespeare took this British.
legend and conceptualized it to fit his audience. Shakespeare added the.
character of the Fool as a tool in better understanding Lear. The Fool.
exists as a metaphorical device in the King's path to better understanding.
himself. The Fool's bitter jests ultimately show King Lear the folly of his.
action. King Lear's madness and the Fool's wit and insight illustrate the.
theme of the play. The theme being man's inhumanity to man in the form of.
ingratitude.
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Shakespeare gives the most unlikely character, The Fool, the.