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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
King Lear is a universal play depicting the fragility of power, family, trust, and the law of actions over words. This was my introduction to Shakespeare, who needs no introduction, and I was honestly very skeptical at first on whether or not I should read this play, for one: his English is very challenging, and two: middle schoolers and high schoolers alike collectively dislike this man, and I thought maybe that would rub off on me as well. But hey, I gave it a shot, and I got a lot more out of it than I thought.
The tragedy of King Lear is full of many admirable as well as hateful characters, all with their own intricate characteristics and desires, all universal as well as the story. Shakespeare's English is honestly not that hard to read if you understand the basic grasp of words such as "thou", "thee", "they", etc. Not to mention how the play makes you sympathize with Lear as it goes on, understanding his fragility and weakness being the effect of his pride and ego, something we all fall into at least a couple times in our lives.
Very meaningful and profound over 400 years later, the first play I've read of many to come.
The tragedy of King Lear is full of many admirable as well as hateful characters, all with their own intricate characteristics and desires, all universal as well as the story. Shakespeare's English is honestly not that hard to read if you understand the basic grasp of words such as "thou", "thee", "they", etc. Not to mention how the play makes you sympathize with Lear as it goes on, understanding his fragility and weakness being the effect of his pride and ego, something we all fall into at least a couple times in our lives.
Very meaningful and profound over 400 years later, the first play I've read of many to come.
I found it hard to see this as a tragedy as I thought there wasn't much depth to most of the characters that died and I therefore didn't find it sad at all.
Also, I feel like it shows how absolute rule/ power is selfish and just leads to terrible consequences for everyone else.
Also, I feel like it shows how absolute rule/ power is selfish and just leads to terrible consequences for everyone else.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Murder
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WE TWO ALONE WILL SING LIKE BIRDS I’ TH’ CAGE.
WHEN THOU DOST ASK ME BLESSING, I’LL KNEEL DOWN
AND ASK OF THEE FORGIVENESS. SO WE’LL LIVE,
AND PRAY, AND SING, AND TELL OLD TALES, AND LAUGH
AT GILDED BUTTERFLIES, AND HEAR POOR ROGUES
TALK OF COURT NEWS, AND WE’LL TALK WITH THEM TOO—
WHO LOSES AND WHO WINS; WHO’S IN, WHO’S OUT—
AND TAKE UPON ’S THE MYSTERY OF THINGS,
AS IF WE WERE GOD’S SPIES. AND WE’LL WEAR OUT,
IN A WALLED PRISON, PACKS AND SECTS OF GREAT ONES
THAT EBB AND FLOW BY TH’ MOON.
UPON SUCH SACRIFICES, MY CORDELIA,
THE GODS THEMSELVES THROW INCENSE. HAVE I CAUGHT
THEE?
HE THAT PARTS US SHALL BRING A BRAND FROM HEAVEN
AND FIRE US HENCE LIKE FOXES. WIPE THINE EYES.
THE GOOD YEARS SHALL DEVOUR THEM, FLESH AND FELL,
ERE THEY SHALL MAKE US WEEP. WE’LL SEE ’EM STARVED
FIRST.
Sometimes love isn't enough.