William Shakespeares King Lear Date of Composition and

Date of Composition and Source l l l Most difficult play to pin down

Lear and European History l l One of the few plays to take place

The Hundred Years War: What was it? • long struggle between England France over

The Plot and Subplot: Two Parallel Stories l l l Lear and his daughters:

Aristotelian Hamartia l Poetics: tragic hero is one who is guilty of hamartia, and

Characters l l l King Lear-Aging King of Britain Cordelia-Lear’s youngest daughter, disowned for

Characters- Evil l Edmund-Gloucester’s Bastard Son who resents his position; cunning in his schemes

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William Shakespeare’s King Lear

Date of Composition and Source l l l 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

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

The Hundred Years War: What was it? • long struggle between England France over the throne of France. • • lasted from 1337 to 1453 • • success see-saws back and forth • • 1415 - King Henry V of England conquers large parts of France; wins extraordinary concessions • • 1422 - France takes control again • • Joan of Arc (a young mystic) leads the final charge to win the throne back for France

The Plot and Subplot: Two Parallel Stories l l l 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

Aristotelian Hamartia l Poetics: tragic hero is one who is guilty of hamartia, and perhaps hubris l Hamartia: error of judgment l Hubris: excessive pride l Lear is guilty of both l Existential Hero: architect of his own ruin l Fall from high to low

Characters l l l 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

Characters- Evil l Edmund-Gloucester’s Bastard Son who resents his position; cunning in his schemes l Regan (wife of Cornwall) and Goneril (wife of Albany)- Lear’s daughters who are interested in power and do not care about their father