King Lear

'King Lear' is considered to be one of the greatest works of Shakespeare.

There is a reason for that.

'King Lear' has to be one of the finest works of literature I have ever read. 'Les Miserables' and 'Othello' are the only other works I have read that come close to it. The rich and poetic tragedy was, well, beautiful.

It was remarkably easy to read. And in spite of how sad much of it was, there were several, well, "funny parts." The Fool has to be one of the top ten greatest Shakespearean characters ever. Seriously. He was hilarious. He was clever, loyal, wise, and, well, hilarious.

I would have liked the play very very much but for one thing. They killed the Fool. Cordelia, Lear, all the bad guys, everyone else, them I don't mind dying, that was fine. But the Fool!?!?! You just can't do that. Other than that, even with all the sadness, treachery, gore, and deaths, I liked 'Ling Lear.'

Worst Character: Goneril and Regan. The two all-time most evil female characters in all literature...untill proven otherwise. And Edmund. He was a great deal like Iago from 'Othello', only not quite so intense.

Best Character: I want to say the Fool, but really, the Earl of Kent was the best character. He was banished (for his loyalty), but instead of leaving he disguised himself and stuck around to take care of King Lear. The Duke of Albany and Edgar were also quite neat. (Those three, actually, were the ones still alive at the end, left to rule the country.)

In a Word: Interesting.

Rated: PG13. Violence and gore.

Crowning Moment: The whole play, really, was exceedingly excellent. The famous scene during the storm, though, was really...really... (My abstract brain can not think of a word for it...)...amazing. My all-time favorite part in the play, though, is when the Fool all of the sudden randomly points at King Lear and says "That's a shealed peascod." (Empty pea-pod.)

I would recommend it. Please, find a copy and read it, because I am really not nearly a good enough writer to make they play sound half as epic as it is.

"Mark it, nuncle:

Have more than thou showest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest,
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest;
Leave thy drink and thy whore,
And keep in-a-door,
And thou shalt have more
Than two tens to a score."