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William Shakespeare’s King Lear

Dive into the intricate world of William Shakespeare's King Lear, a play set during a tumultuous period in British and European history. Follow the parallel tales of Lear and his daughters, as well as Edgar and his family, revealing themes of pride, betrayal, and the fall from grace. Discover the tragic flaws of the characters and the existential journey towards ruin in this timeless masterpiece.

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William Shakespeare’s King Lear

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  1. William Shakespeare’s King Lear

  2. Date of Composition and Source • Most difficult play to pin down • Written after Hamlet and Othello • Winter of 1605-1606 • “Leir” a folk legend king who never actually existed • Published during his life time

  3. Lear and European History • One of the few plays to take place in Britain (except Histories) • Similar to other tragedies- nobility • Believed to be during the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) • France loses the battle

  4. The Hundred Years War: What was it? • long struggle between England and France over the throne of France. • lasted from 1337 to 1453 • success see-saws back and forth • 1415 - King Henry V of England conquers large parts of France; wins extraordinary concessions • 1422 - France takes control again • Joan of Arc (a young mystic) leads the final charge to win the throne back for France

  5. The Plot and Subplot: Two Parallel Stories • Lear and his daughters: Main Plot • Edgar and his father and brother: subplot • Parallel stories: their closeness in plot and direction render them mirrors of each other • Both Lear and Gloucester have faith in the wrong child and reject the right one • Hook: begins in media res (in the middle of things) Kent, Gloucester (Gloss ter), and Edmund enter stage already in conversation

  6. Aristotelian Hamartia • Poetics: tragic hero is one who is guilty of hamartia, and perhaps hubris • Hamartia: error of judgment • Hubris: excessive pride • Lear is guilty of both • Existential Hero: architect of his own ruin • Fall from high to low

  7. Characters • King Lear-Aging King of Britain • Cordelia-Lear’s youngest daughter, disowned for refusing to flatter him • Kent-Nobleman who is loyal to Lear, but outspoken • Gloucester-Nobleman to Lear, suffers a parallel fate • Edgar-Gloucester’s older legitimate son • Fool- Lear’s court jester who gives important advice

  8. Characters- Evil • Edmund-Gloucester’s Bastard Son who resents his position; cunning in his schemes • Regan (wife of Cornwall) and Goneril (wife of Albany)- Lear’s daughters who are interested in power and do not care about their father

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