King Lear by William Shakespeare
T
Theodoros Kafantaris
Published on July 07, 2026
Introduction
Shakespeare's King Lear (c. 1605) is a play about nothing—and everything. Lear divides his kingdom based on flattery, disinheriting Cordelia, his only honest daughter. Madness, betrayal, and destruction follow.
The Descent into Madness
Lear on the heath, accompanied by his Fool, finally sees what he could not see as king: the suffering of the poor, the fragility of human existence. His madness is also his wisdom.
The Unbearable Ending
Cordelia returns to rescue her father but is hanged. Lear enters carrying her dead body: "Howl, howl, howl!" The play offers no redemption—only the raw fact of love and loss.
Key Takeaways
- Flattery is poison
- Madness brings wisdom
- Love and suffering are inseparable
