There's a well-known theory that along with age comes wisdom. Wisdom is gained through different experiences in life, and encompasses the ability to act with insight, knowledge, and good judgment. Old age and wisdom are correlated, with wisdom increasing with age. For this reason, elderly people are considered to wiser due to the accumulated experiences throughout their lives. However, contrary to popular belief, old age does not necessarily come with wisdom. Shakespeare's tragedy, King Lear, illustrates how both Lear and Gloucester reach old age without any wisdom. Both are blind to their children's' deceits and treachery, and exhibit neither insight nor wisdom that is expected of their old age. Ultimately, Lear and Gloucester could have avoided many catastrophes and their tragic demise had they been wiser. Henceforth, Shakespeare establishes that wisdom and old age are not synonymous in the play, King Lear. King Lear's naive beliefs exemplify how wisdom does not come with old age. The elderly Lear intends on relinquishing his throne to his three daughters. He reasons: "To shake all cares and business from our age, /Conferring them on younger strengths while we /Unburdened crawl toward death" (I,i,37-39). Lear is of the belief that he can simply retire. This is foolish because Lear's decision only disrupts the great chain of being; in the Elizabethan era, kings were expected to rule until their death. Moreover, Lear expects to keep the title of the king and be treated as such despite giving up his crown. He tells his daughters Goneril and Regan, "Only shall we retain /The name, and all...to a king. /The sway, revenue, execution of the rest" (I,i,135-137). Simply put, Lear wants the title and treatment of the king without doing any work. Lear's utterly asinine and unrealistic belief is recognized by Goneril when she says, "Idle old man /That still would manage those authorities /That he hath given away!" (I,iii,16-18). Lear is foolish to believe he can still wield the powers he has given away. Correspondingly, Lear gives away everything to Goneril and Regan upon relinquishing his throne. He gives away his kingdom, his power, authority, and wealth, only to