Abstract This paper attempts to answer why the characters in "King Lear" use disguises and what this need for disguises says about the world in which they live. The paper discusses the disguise of each of the main characters in the play and then explains the purpose each of those disguises.
From the Paper "William Shakespeare, in his tragedy "King Lear" describes the story of King Lear who intends to divide his kingdom among his three daughters in accordance with the love that they could profess for him. It was also his intent to retain all the powers of the king while absolving himself of the duties and functions, which has to be performed by a ruling king. But as the fate had decided King Lear divides the whole kingdom into almost two equal portions and gives them to his two cunning elder daughters. The youngest innocent and gentle daughter, whom he loved most and about whom it was expected that she would get the biggest share from the kingdom, is denied her legal rights and nothing is given to her. As soon as the two elder daughters take full command of the situation, they start mistreating their father and the King takes refuge in a jungle."