In King Lear, Shakespeare constructs the play so that originally, as Harbage argues, “We weigh circumstances and view Lear’s reverses at least partly in terms of his faults,” yet eventually find that disaster is created by “the immeasurable evil,” of his two daughters. This technique results in complex character development, which stimulates the reader to evaluate each player repeatedly, as they each experience many “reverses”. Lear’s initial behavior sets in motion a chain …showed first 75 words of 1369 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1369 total…play reveal complex character traits that allow the audience interpret changes in personality and the motives of the players. Goneril and Regan quickly emerge as the cynical conceits that they are, while Lear suddenly becomes a noble victim. The intricacies of the play, allow the reader to use his mind and feel an array of different emotions very early on. Shakespeare’s ability to build and rebuild characters results in a “genius” piece of literature.