King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1605 and 1606. It is considered one of his greatest works and a pinnacle of English literature. The play is set in ancient Britain and follows the aging King Lear, who decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on their declarations of love for him. When his youngest daughter Cordelia refuses to flatter him, she is disinherited, setting off a chain of events that leads to betrayal, madness, and tragedy.
The play explores profound themes of power, loyalty, justice, and the nature of human suffering. Its bleak and uncompromising vision, combined with its poetic brilliance, has made it a staple of theatrical repertoires worldwide. The character of Lear, descending into madness on the heath during a storm, is one of the most iconic figures in drama.
First performed in 1606, the play exists in two major textual versions: the 1608 quarto and the 1623 First Folio, with significant differences between them. After the Restoration, Nahum Tate's heavily revised version with a happy ending dominated the stage for over a century, but Shakespeare's original text was restored in the 19th century and has since been recognized as a masterpiece. The play has inspired countless adaptations across all media, from opera and film to modern-dress stage productions.
