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Book Salon
King Lear

  • This month we're reading King Lear by William Shakespeare. Our faculty host is Roland Greene.

    Listen to an interview with our Book Salon host.

    "King Lear is the most soul-baring of Shakespeare's tragedies. The play explores all at once the limits of political power, the pull of family, and the frailty of human existence. Moreover, it reveals the thought of a moment in which England was ruled by a new king and the intellectual world was changing quickly in light of new discoveries and insights. Having recently experienced the play's power for Stanford undergraduates, I believe it will speak to alumni even more urgently."

    Roland Greene, Mark Pigott KBE Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences and a professor of English and comparative literature

About this quarter's book selection

William Shakespeare’s King Lear follows a king at the end of his reign. Tired from years of ruling, King Lear decides to divide his realm between his three daughters. King Lear decides to leave his realm with the child that loves him the most. His two oldest daughters, Goneril and Regan, are selfish and deceitful and flatter their father with lies. His youngest daughter Cordelia speaks truthfully and angers King Lear. Cordelia is disinherited, while her older sisters are rewarded for their lies.

The play then follows the effect his decision has on his kingdom and children. King Lear drives himself to madness after his decision, wandering the heath with his Fool, Caius, and another madman, Tom O’Bedlam.  The ultimate result is heartbreaking tragedy for the entire family with little space for redemption.

King Lear remains one of William Shakespeare’s most endearing and famous plays. It has been widely adapted for the stage and movies, often featuring some of the world’s most prominent actors. 

The Stanford Book Salon [Seriously Unstuffy]