King Lear

Author: William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Written: c 1605-1606
Editors: Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2009 Edition)
Bought from: Borders Singapore


Introduction

This is one of the Bard’s major tragedies. The eponymous character is based on a mythical Celtic king. The text of King Lear as we know it today was first published in a 1608 quarto (titled True Chronicle History of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters).


What is it about?

The story is set in an unspecified period in England. The main character is the aging (and very likely senile) eponymous king. At the beginning of the story, he invites his three daughters to tell him how much they love him so that he can divide his kingdom accordingly. Goneril and Regan lay it on with a trowel while the youngest daughter Cordelia tells him plainly that she loves him as a daughter loves a father, no more and no less. King Lear banishes Cordelia as well as Kent who speaks up for her. King Lear then divides his kingdom between Goneril/Albany and Regan/Cornwall. The two daughters, having received what they want from their father, begin to mistreat him. Lear is driven mad and runs away. Meanwhile, Gloucester is tricked by his illegitimate son Edmund to disinherit his son and heir Edgar. The fates of the 2 dysfunctional family cross and culminates in a tragic dénouement. While the villains get their comeuppance, there is no happy ending for Lear or Cordelia.


Themes

The central theme of this tale is familial betrayal. Goneril and Regan betray their father. Later, they betray each other and their respective husbands to woo Edmund. Edmund himself betrays his father and brother.

In light of all the back-stabbing, it is not surprising that it seems like everyone is angry at someone in this story. Some of the play's most memorable moments spring from anger. King Lear rants at everyone and even the storm. In particular, he curses Goneril virulently:

“Hear, Nature, hear, dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful.
Into her womb convey sterility.
Dry up in her the organs of increase,
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honor her. If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen, that it may live
And be a thwart disnatured torment to her.
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth.
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks,
Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt, that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
To have a thankless child. Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend To make this creature fruitful. Into her womb convey sterility. Dry up in her the organs of increase, And from her derogate body never spring A babe to honor her. If she must teem, Create her child of spleen, that it may live And be a thwart disnatured torment to her. Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth. With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks, Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits To laughter and contempt, that she may feel How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is To have a thankless child.”
(1.4.289-303)

Cornwall is angry at Kent (he puts him in the stocks: 2.2) as well as Gloucester (he kicks or gouges out Gloucester’s eyes, uttering “Out, vile jelly!”: 3.7).

Kent and Owald get into an altercation and Kent angrily denounces Oswald: “Thou whoreson zed, thou unnecessary letter!” (2.2.65). In a Sunday Telegraph Shakespeare Survey in 2008, author Anthony Horowitz picked this as his favourite Shakespeare insult.

What about the book?

This was the first Shakespeare book I bought. It is from the Folger Shakespeare Library series. Compared to say the RSC Shakespeare volumes, this one is better in terms of -
- paper quality (white, reasonably thick)
- font size
- presentation: the text is on the right hand page and notes on the left hand page
- illustrations (although it just a little annoying though that these illustrations tend to show up many pages away from the corresponding text)

However, I feel the notes in the RSC Shakespeare series are more detailed and helpful.

Finally …

My top 5 Shakespeare tragedies:

1. Hamlet

2. Romeo and Juliet

3. Macbeth

4. Othello

5. King Lear

I will want to read King Lear again, perhaps from the RSC Shakespeare Series.