THE TRAGEDY OF KING LEAR BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

     Hello readers! I'm Jagruti Vala.

I'm a student. I have studied the tragedy of King lear during B.A.

Author:  William Shakespeare.

Title:  The Tragedy of King Lear.

Question:- Have you studied any tragedy during B.A. programme?

Answer:- 

     The True Chronicle and Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and his Three Daughters. With the Unfortunate Life if Edgar, Son and Heir to the Earle of Gloster, and his Sullen and Assumed Humor of Tom of Bedlam: As it was played before the Kings Majestie at Whitehall upon S. Stephans Night in Christmas Hillidayes. By his Majesties servants playing usually at the Gloabe on the Bancke-side.

First Written: 1605

First Performed: Dec. 1606

First Published for Reading: 1608

First Collected into Works: 1623

First performed for King James I for Christmas in 1606.

 Historical Background:- 

       King Lear belongs to the mythical past of England, roughly the AD 700s or 800s. Both Raphael Holinshed (Chronicles) and Geoffrey of Monmouth (Historia Britonum) treat Lear as a real king. The original story, however, has Cordelia living and sharing rule with her father after they've overcome their oppressors. After Shakespeare's day, it was common to turn it back into a comedy. Some even write Codelia and Edgar into lovers.

Some Significant Themes:-

Sight may blind; blindness may bring sight.

Nothing comes of nothing. (Lear)

The Natural Order: Family

The Natural Order: Destiny (and the Stars)

Woe, that too late repents. (Lear)

Fathers may little understand where they lead their children.

Children will father their fathers.

Symbols:-

The heath,

The storm,

Mutilation,

Crowns and hats.

Climax:-  Gloucester's Blinding.

Tone:  Bleak, serious, tragic; comedic interjections are generally dark, almost surreal.

HAMARTIA:-

     Hamartia, also called tragic flaw, inherent defect or shortcoming in the hero of a tragedy, who is in other respects a superior being favoured by fortune.

    King Lear's sense of superiority is his greatest hamartia which acts as the main internal force pushing him towards inaccurate judgment, insistence on his rash decisions, and ultimately destruction and downfall.

PLOT:-

     

    King Lear gives up his political power and lands, with his sons-in-law ruling as regents, but he keeps the title of 'king'. Lear gives his older daughters Goneril and Regan half his kingdom each to rule with their husbands and surprises everyone by disinheriting and disowning his youngest daughter Cordelia.