I’m very grateful that this was not the first time each of us had read King Lear. We all read it when we studied abroad in London in 2010. The four of us were also lucky enough to see the Royal Shakespeare Company perform it when we visited Stratford-upon-Avon for Shakespeare’s birthday. I say I’m grateful because this play is so complex and heavy and awesome that reading and seeing it multiple times makes such a difference that I feel compelled to reiterate this perhaps obvious yet important notion of how repetition is vital with Shakespeare. Okay, I got that out of the way, whew! Now, I will continue on with the meatier parts of our discussion and my reflection.
There are many elements that I feel we picked apart and that I understand better this time around. For starters, I felt like I finally got a grasp on understanding the characters of the Fool and Edgar, Gloucester’s legitimate son who disguises himself as a crazy, homeless man named Tom. What struck me most about them this time is seeing both serve as representations or markers of Lear’s diminishing mind.
We see the Fool partway through the beginning of the play, after Cordelia’s banishment. It is at this point where Lear has truly made a foolish mistake by giving away his power and land to two of his daughters, who do not have his best interests at heart, and sending his true and loyal daughter into exile. The Fool tries to make Lear realize his mistake through repetitions of little ditties and jokes. In fact, the role of the fool, historically, went beyond simply entertaining and amusing. The fool was expected to criticize his master along with their guests. Fun Fact: “Queen Elizabeth is said to have rebuked one of her fools for not being severe enough with her” (from The New Cambridge Shakespeare, editied by Jay L. Halio). That is the responsibility and the little power the Fool has with his master. But Lear does not fully acknowledge the Fool’s elucidations. The Fool sticks with Lear through the most intense of storms, trying to care and guide his king to safety. Then shortly after the storm, the Fool leaves and does not return for the rest of the play. Tom, the crazy beggar, stays with Lear, continuing to lead Lear along with Kent, a loyal subject to the King. Along with the transition of attendants, Lear transitions from foolishness to madness.
More fun facts: We found out that in Shakespeare’s time the actor who played Cordelia doubled as the Fool, which was not only practical but also would add another layer to that character’s relationship with Lear. Also, some productions have insinuated that the Fool could possibly be Lear’s illegitimate child, which would also be interesting given that the play is largely about the relationship between sons and daughters, legitimate or not.
In our discussion we really tuned in to the importance of Lear’s relationship to Tom. Edgar completely strips away his identity to take on the role. Lear, who has also been stripped of his identity and belongings, recognizes himself in the beggar. He sees them as equal, and, even though he is losing his mind, he shows us what being human is without the adornments that have come with civilization: “Thou ow’st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the cat no perfume. . . thou art the thing itself. Unaccompanied man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art” (3.4.93-97). Lear views himself in his true nature.
Nature is one of the more poignant themes of Lear. We see it referenced all over the place in a variety of ways including simply witnessing the realities of being human. We all know that each of us will keep continuing to age until we die. We all share that same fate. This play forces us to think about our own mortality and our own fragility. I think if this play is done well we are taken in and made to feel the same amount of vulnerability as Lear feels at the end of the play. That is one of the many reasons why this play is so difficult, moving, uncomfortable, and ultimately so important.
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