James Bridie
In the first act, Lear…is destitute of any decent human quality and incapable of any reasonable act
Arnold Kettle 1
His story is…his progress from being a king to being a man.
Howard Felperin
Lear is increasingly humanised with his actions.
Arnold Kettle 2
The social storm which shakes the divided kingdom and the inner storm which drives Lear mad.
Jan Kott
The Fool knows that the only true madness is to recognise this world as rational.
Kiernan Ryan
The great tragic protagonists are indeed fools of time.
Caroline Spurgeon
The iterative image of the play is that of a human body in anguished movement.
Russell Peck
Edgar is the personification of justice.
Harold F Brooks
The play is not only a tragedy of parents and children, of pride and ingratitude, but also a tragedy of kingship
