The Oxford Dictionary of Plays

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King Lear

King Lear (True Chronicle Historie of the life and death of King Lear and his three Daughters)

Author: William Shakespeare

First Performance: c.1605–6, London

Published: 1608 (1st quarto), 1619 (2nd quarto), 1623

Genre: Trag. in 5 acts; blank verse and prose

Setting: Ancient Britain

Cast: 19m, 3f, extras

King Lear decides to abdicate, dividing his kingdom between his three daughters. First, he invites them to tell him how much they love him. His two eldest daughters, Goneril and Regan, respond with words of flattery, and are duly rewarded. However, his youngest and favourite daughter, Cordelia, finds it impossible to utter words of love. Lear flies into a rage, banishing her and giving her third of the kingdom to her two sisters. When Kent tries to intervene, he too is sent into exile. Cordelia departs...

[The entire page is 583 words long]

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