King Lear of Britain, has three daughters: the hard-hearted Goneril and Regan and the good and gentle Cordelia. Wishing to ease himself of the burden of rule, he determines to divide his kingdom between them, giving the largest share to she who can say she loves him the best. Lear's tragic lack of judgement and self-knowledge is paralleled by the blindness of the loyal Gloucester who is persuaded to reject his virtuous son Edgar in favor of the villainous Edmund. This shattering drama of isolation and loss is one of the greatest tragedies in world literature.