Lear
Definition
- Proper noun:
- The protagonist of a Shakespearean tragedy: "Lear" refers to the title character in William Shakespeare's play King Lear, an aging monarch betrayed by two of his daughters.
- A British artist and poet: "Lear" refers to Edward Lear, a 19th-century English artist and poet famous for his literary nonsense and limericks.
Usage Examples
- Proper noun (Shakespearean character):
- In the final act, Lear carries the body of his daughter Cordelia.
- The actor's portrayal of Lear's descent into madness was powerful.
- Proper noun (Historical figure):
- Edward Lear is best known for his poem "The Owl and the Pussycat".
- We studied Lear's nonsense verses in our literature class.
Advanced Usage
- "A Lear-like figure": Used to describe a person, especially an authority figure, who is betrayed by those close to them or who endures great suffering and loss.
- The deposed CEO became a Lear-like figure, abandoned by his former allies.
Variants and Related Words
- Learian (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of Edward Lear's style of humorous and nonsensical writing.
- The poem has a distinctly Learian quality with its invented words and absurd rhymes.
Synonyms
- (For the character) King Lear, the king.
- (For the poet) Edward Lear.
Related Idioms
- "A King Lear complex": Sometimes used in literary analysis or psychology to describe a situation involving paternal betrayal, filial ingratitude, or the tragic consequences of poor judgment in old age.
- The novel's theme explores a modern King Lear complex within a corporate family.
Noun
-
the hero of William Shakespeare's tragedy who was betrayed and mistreated by two of his scheming daughters
-
British artist and writer of nonsense verse (1812-1888)
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