King Lear, one of Shakespeare's darkest and most savage plays, tells the story of the foolish and Job-like Lear, who divides his kingdom, as he does his affections, according to vanity and whim. Lear's failure as a father engulfs himself and his world in turmoil and tragedy.King Lear divides his kingdom among the two daughters who flatter him and banishes the third one who loves him. His eldest daughters both then reject him at their homes, so Lear goes mad and wanders through a storm. His banished daughter returns with an army, but they lose the battle and Lear, all his daughters and more, die.King Lear's palace.[Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND]KENTI thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.GLOUCESTERIt did always seem so to us: but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.KENTIs not this your son, my lord?GLOUCESTERHis breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.KENTI cannot conceive you.GLOUCESTERSir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?KENTI cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.GLOUCESTERBut I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came something saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund?EDMUNDNo, my lord.GLOUCESTERMy lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.EDMUNDMy services to your lordship.KENTI must love you, and sue to know you better.EDMUNDSir, I shall study deserving.GLOUCESTERHe hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. The king is coming.Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and AttendantsKING LEARAttend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.GLOUCESTERI shall, my liege.[Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND]KING LEARMeantime we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the map there. Know that we have divided In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age; Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburthen'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall, And you, our no less loving son of Albany, We have this hour a constant will to publish Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy, Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, my daughters, - Since now we will divest us both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state, - Which of you shall we say doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril, Our eldest-born, speak firs