William Shakespeare's play "King Lear" is a story that tells us to beware of flatterers. The title character King Lear disinherits his favorite daughter after she fails to flatter him when he asks each of his daughters how much they love him. King Lear is a foolish king who just goes with his first impressions and doesn't look deeper into people's words. The play takes place in England before the time of Merlin. The time period of the setting however is irrelevant to the play and the play could take place in any time period. King Lear is not an actual historical king, he is rather a king of British legend.The play teaches parents to beware children who love them superficially. Flatterers fool those who love to be flattered.The character King Lear is according to what I have heard, a rather difficult and demanding character to play for an actor. The Folger edition of this play has lots of explanatory notes to help the reader to understand the play.