King Lear (The New Folger Library Shakespeare)
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By Gareth Owen - October 27, 2002

Why, in spite of everything do we like Lear and are on his side?

Ultimately any pathos that lies with Lear is due to the fact that he, like all Shakespeare's tragic heroes, does not deserve the severity of the punishment he receives. He is, through his lack of wisdom, the victim of circumstance.

Lear's catastrophic decision to split the kingdom…

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