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William Shakespeare’s King Lear

William Shakespeare’s King Lear. 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. Original Title.

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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. Original Title • M. William Shak-speare: His True Chronicle Historie of the life and death of King Lear and his three Daughters. With the unfortunate life of Edgar, sonne and heire to the Earle of Gloster, and his sullen and assumed humor of Tom of Bedlam

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

  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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