A copy of King Lear (far right) aboard the SS Botany Bay
King Lear is a drama written by William Shakespeare during the early 17th century.
James T. Kirk once quoted from King Lear, after telling Kukulkan that his assistance to mankind was not required, by stating the lines from Act I scene IV: "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is / To have a thankless child!" (TAS: "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth")
A copy of King Lear was among the small collection of books found aboard the SS Botany Bay in 2286. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
| Selected works of William Shakespeare |
|---|
| All's Well That Ends Well • As You Like It • Hamlet • Henry IV, Part I • Henry IV, Part II • Henry V • Henry VI, Part I • Henry VI, Part II • Henry VI, Part III • Henry VIII • Julius Caesar • King John • King Lear • Love's Labour's Lost • Macbeth • Measure for Measure • The Merchant of Venice • A Midsummer Night's Dream • Much Ado About Nothing • Othello • Richard II • Richard III • Romeo and Juliet • The Tempest • Timon of Athens • Twelfth Night, or What You Will • sonnets |
Background Information
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star Avery Brooks has often played the title role in productions of the play by the Shakespeare Theatre Company.
Early drafts of Star Trek: Insurrection had Picard distract Data in the Federation mission scoutship by quoting from King Lear. It was Patrick Stewart who suggested using Gilbert and Sullivan instead. (Fade In: The Writing of Star Trek: Insurrection)