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''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It depicts the gradual descent into madness of the title character, after he disposes of his kingdom giving bequests to two of his three daughters based on their flattery of him, bringing tragic consequences for all. Derived from the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological pre-Roman Celtic king, the play has been widely adapted for the stage and motion pictures, with the title role coveted by many of the world's most accomplished actors. Originally drafted in 1605 or 1606, with its first known performance on St. Stephen's Day in 1606, the first attribution to Shakespeare was a 1608 publication in a quarto of uncertain provenance; it may be an early draft or simply reflect the first performance text.〔http://www.bl.uk/treasures/shakespeare/kinglear.html〕 ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', a more theatrical revision, was included in the 1623 First Folio. Modern editors usually conflate the two, though some insist that each version has its own individual integrity that should be preserved.〔.〕 After the English Restoration, the play was often revised with a happy, non-tragic ending for audiences who disliked its dark and depressing tone, but since the 19th century Shakespeare's original version has been regarded as one of his supreme achievements. The tragedy is particularly noted for its probing observations on the nature of human suffering and kinship. George Bernard Shaw wrote, "No man will ever write a better tragedy than ''Lear''".〔Shaw and Wilson p.111.〕 == Characters== * Lear – King of Britain * Goneril – Lear's eldest daughter * Regan – Lear's second daughter * Cordelia – Lear's youngest daughter * Duke of Albany – Goneril's husband * Duke of Cornwall – Regan's husband * Earl of Gloucester * Earl of Kent – later disguised as Caius * Edgar – Gloucester's son * Edmund – Gloucester's illegitimate son * Oswald – Goneril's steward * Fool – Lear's fool * King of France – suitor and later husband to Cordelia * Duke of Burgundy – suitor to Cordelia * Curan – courtier * Old man – tenant of Gloucester * Officer - employed by Edmund * Gentleman – attends Cordelia * Servants to Cornwall * Knights of Lear's Train * Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「King Lear」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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