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Every instance when you fear you're lying to yourself - picture Gloucester with his eyes gouged out. The play is about lying to yourself - the unwillingness to see things the way they are, insistence on the picture of the world and your identity as you want it just because you have power. Power. Power in King Lear can be said in the same breath as illusion. The King is about to step down from his throne and divide his kingdom among his three daughters. The illusion of power persists. Dire conseq
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Not my favorite Shakespeare story but I did like it. Lear is a good study of loyalty and betrayal and family, themes we're all familiar with. I think it is one of those stories that doesn't even need updating to retain its relevance, unlike some others. A worthwhile read.
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My favorite tragedy: A complex play with the central theme of the cost of pridefulness and ego. I weep when I read Lear's reunion with Cornelia.
I saw the PBS production with Ian McKellen as Lear, so re-read it . ...more
I saw the PBS production with Ian McKellen as Lear, so re-read it . ...more
One of my favorite plays!
Mar 24, 2010
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