Shakespeare's epic tragedy King Lear focuses on an aging king as he relinquishes power toward the end of his life. A tale of jealousy, hunger for power and betrayal, King Lear is often considered Shakespeare's finest work and a defining cornerstone of Western tragedy. Widely interpreted into a variety of languages and formats, Lear is one of the most performed pieces of theater in history. The story's powerful characterizations and human themes ring true as this canonical classic remains established in the vast cultural imagination.
