King Lear: Themes/Symbols

Symbols 

Themes

Quotes

The Theme Wheel visualizes all of Macbeth's themes and plot points on one page.

How does the Theme Wheel work?

• Each wedge of the blue ring represents a scene.
• Each row of colored boxes extending from a wedge represents a part of the scene. The closer to the blue ring, the closer to the beginning of the scene.
• The colors in each row indicate which themes are “active” in that part of the scene.

The Theme Wheel is interactive.

• Themes: Hover over or tap any of the themes in the Themes and Colors Key to show only that theme. Click a theme in the Themes Key to lock it.
• Summary: Hover over or tap any row of colored boxes to read the summary associated with that row. Click the row to lock the summary.

Join us for a dramatic and moving story of betrayal, madness and war as a nation and family are torn apart. Easily gain insight into complex themes like justice and madness, as well as the fascinating world in which Shakespeare lived. Along the way, master analysis of key quotes so you are ready to tackle any assessment that comes your way.

His plans for succession are such that he will divide his kingdom between his three daughters – Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. Before he does, he challenges them to proclaim their love for him and says their inheritance will be decided according to their responses. While Goneril and Regan make exaggerated proclamations of devotion, Cordelia, Lear’s youngest daughter, says she loves him no more nor less than she should. Lear rashly and angrily disowns her, banishing Cordelia and leaving his empire to her sisters.

Goneril and Regan soon become inhospitable and begin to treat their father with indignity and coldness. Lear, feeling betrayed and grief-stricken, descends into madness and flees with his Fool into a brewing storm. Meanwhile, power games are playing out among the nobility. Edmund, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Gloucester, plans to overthrow his legitimate half-brother, Edgar. He tricks Gloucester into believing that Edgar plans to murder him, forcing Edgar to flee.

Written between 1605 and 1606, King Lear is one of Shakespeare’s great tragedies and the title role is considered one of the greatest acting challenges in the canon. Based on the legend of the ancient British King Leir, Shakespeare’s tragedy delves deeply into the human condition, offering a profound reflection on power, mortality, family and betrayal.