King Lear - Literary Touchstone Classic

Book excerpt: To make King Lear more accessible to the modern reader, our Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Classic? provides in-depth explanations, as well as historical background. Convenient sidebar notes and an extensive glossary help the reader navigate the complexities of the text and enjoy the beauty of Shakespeare's verse, the wisdom of his insights, and the impact of his drama.'Which of you shall we say doth love us most?With these reckless words, Lear, the aged king of ancient Britain begins a game that will tear apart his kingdom, his family, and his own sense of self, pitting sister against sister, rewarding flattery, and punishing integrity. Lear is unable to foresee the consequences that will follow from his choice.The loyal Duke of Gloucester is likewise blinded, figuratively and literally, by flattery and deceptions, and he also learns too late the price of misplaced trust.This tragedy of the foolish king'arguably Shakespeare's greatest work'is a poignant examination of the complexities of human nature: wisdom and foolishness, vision and blindness, and true love and loyalty between parents and their children.