Shakespeare Week: Day Three

I knew I probably shouldn't have promised a whole week of Shakespeare during midterms ^-^ What on earth was I thinking??? However, since I've finished the afore mentioned Government midterm exam (*phew*) I've decided to update. Well, not update. Reconstruct. And not neccessarily reconstruct. Just... write about Shakespeare's King Lear. Does that work? The following is a plot summary written for my Shakespeare Group (Counter Culture Productions) when we presented this play:

King Lear, the powerful and respected King of Britain in a time long past, has decided to relax and enjoy the status of being a king- without the responsibilites. He decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, and he will give the land based on their statement of love for him {WHAT?!?!?!}. (Whoever loves him the most will get the most!) Then he will divide his time between the castles of his children, while they rule.

He expects to give most of his kingdom to Cordelia, because she has shown him great love and obedience throughout her life. They share a special bond- and his other two daughters are sort of like the wicked step-sisters in Cinderella.

When he asks the daughters for their professions of love, the two sisters (Goneril-me:D and Regan) rant about their great love for him and he is pleased. Cordelia speaks honestly and simply, expressing dismay that her sisters would love their father more than their husbands.

King Lear banishes and disowns her in a fit of anger, but the King of France happily weds her, understanding her goodness, beauty, and courage. Kent, the king's right hand man, tries to prevent the king's abuse of Cordelia and is himself banished, but he disguises himself, and returns to try and save the king from the grave danger his cruel daughters present.

The daughters, Regan and Goneril, are indeed cruel, as is Edmond, the son of Lord Gloucester, Lear's dear friend and neighbor. Edmond wants all of his father's land and power. Because he was born out of wedlock, he cannot legally be his father's heir- that privelege goes to his younger brother. Edmond plots the murder of his only brother, the noble Edgar. Edmond wantsw his father's land and power, and both of Lear's wicked daughters want Edmond, even though they're already married.

Regan is married to the evil Cornwall, but Goneril's husband, Albany, is an honest man, and he has no wish to harm King Lear, so she plots behind his back. The daughters are so mean and awful, that King Lear runs away from them into a story night. Edgar has fled also, because Gloucester, his father, has fallen for Edmond's trap, and ordered his arrest. Edgar disguises himself as a crazy man, and he shares his wilderness shelter with King Lear, who is now losing his mind.

Gloucester wants to help him. The noble Kent sends a letter to Cordelia, and she gets the army of France to come rescue her father. Unfortunately, the evil sisters find out about the plan, and because of Gloucester's part in it, they pluck out his eyes. Gloucester is cast out of his own home in the storm, but his good son Edgar, now dignified, finds him and cares for him.

Regan and Goneril gather Britain's armies to fight France, and they win, and capture King Lear and Cordelia. King Lear begs Cordelia's forgiveness, which she freely gives, and they are happy to be together, even in defeat.

Edmond, now in a powerful position, secretly orders their death in jail.

Goneril and Regan both want to ditch their husbands and marry Edmund, and they end up destroying each other and themselves. Goneril's husband, Albany, is contacted by Edgar and made aware of the many evils done to King Lear. He charges Edmond with treason, and Edgar, in his own clothes, springs out of hiding. Edmond is wounded in the sword fight, and as he is dying, tries to take back his order to kill Lear and Cordelia, but it is too late. Cordelia has been hanged, and King Lear carries her body to his friends where he dies, bereft of everything.

Sad, right? But I truly believe this is one of Shakespeare's greatest works. Though there was much evil in it, there was also much cause for good. Shakespeare made use of the Bible and other classic texts when he wrote his plays. In current academia, it is controversial to highlight the trmendous influence Scripture had in Shakespeare's works, and the fact that his plays have strong moral components. In the past, even the pioneer days in America, this was the primary reason for the study of Shakespeare. Alexander deTocqueville wrote, "the rudest pioneer cabin has a Bible, and a copy of Shakespeare on its shelf." Shakespeare deliberately set King Lear i a pre-Christian time period, and through Scriptural quotes and references throughout the play, we are reminded just how much better off we are when we utilize wisdom greater than our own.

-In losing his pride and self constructed morality, Lear gains peace and reconciliation.

-Cordelia behaves, not as she wants to, but as she knows she must to be ethical.

-In the play, it is the humble characters that speak the lines of wisdom and truth.

-The character Cordelia quotes from the New Testment.

Shakespeare's use of the Bible is a historical fact, and shouldn't be discounted and ignored in any serious study of his works.

Happy Shakespeare Week!

~His Handmaiden