King Lear, by Shakespeare
An Introduction and Study Guide
King Lear, like many of Shakespeare’s stories, is a retelling or reimagining of an earlier story. Many of the plays Shakespeare wrote found their inspiration in ancient Greece and Rome, whether it be their actual history or the works of one of their former great tragedy and comic writers. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for instance, very humorously incorporates the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe from Ovid's Metamorphoses into the story when a troop of amateur actors butcher it before royalty. Of course Julius Caesar is a fictional account of a true historical event, namely the assasination of Caesar by the senate of Rome, and it contains imagined speeches from historical characters (including my all time favorite, Antony’s funeral oration). Many other examples could be given, but Shakespeare’s work definitely proves false the claim that a work cannot be any good if it “derivative.” But that claim is silly anyway because, as Solomon tells us, “There is nothing new under the sun.”
King Lear is another story derived from an earlier one, but this time it’s not so foreign to the English world of Britain because it is borrowed from The History of the Kings of Britain, by Geoffrey of Monmouth. In Monmouth’s work he claims to have translated an ancient manuscript that he found (I wonder if Joseph Smith ever read Monmouth’s introduction?) which tells of the true origin of the Britons. Some of it is historical, some of it is fictional, all of it is mythological (in the true sense of myth). It’s a truly fantastic read with one of the earliest references to King Arthur and Merlin. It also includes a story of the unfortunate fate, brought about by the imprudent actions of King Lear.
Shakespeare’s habit of borrowing material certainly doesn’t reduce him to a mere plagiarizer. It would be more fitting to say that Shakespeare had a rare talent in which he had the ability to breathe fresh life into already great stories. What Shakespeare did is tantamount to the habit of Hollywood producers which like to take books and make them into movies, but with one exception: Shakespeare was good at it. He brought ancient stories to modern stages and far from butchering the old stories he renewed the people’s interest in the old tales.
In his version of King Lear’s story Shakespeare infused the story with great imagination and his usual exceptional wordcraft. A story that has been known for centuries as a tragedy, its not really a spoiler to say to the reader (or theater goer) today that things are not to go well for King Lear. The genius of Shakerspeare’s telling of this story isn’t built around the audience being surprised about what happens to Lear (though I will not give you all the details here), rather the genius is in his ability to tell a story that is well known in a way that is unwaveringly entertaining and undeniably instructive to the human heart.
Make no mistake, this story is about an imprudent and arrogant fool. King Lear could not see the truth right in front of him, let alone what would result from his immediate choices, and he would not listen to wise counsel. Whereas Greek tragedy tends to emphasize fatalism (the impossibility of things having turned out any other way) the story of King Lear emphasizes the role of human decision to determine the outcome of things. King Lear’s faithful daughter won’t tickle his ears with flattery, and he is enraged. His good counselor, Kent, tries to reason him into clearer judgments, but he will not listen. Even his Fool (jester) speaks wisdom to him, but Lear only laughs. As a result of his arrogance King Lear’s world begins to unravel.
Prudence, from the Latin pro and videre, means to “see before.” It shares the exact same roots as the word providence. Insofar as men are prudent they use God’s gift of reason to look ahead and determine what will most likely result from their course of action. The truly prudent man is not arrogant nor reckless, he is inquiring, he is open to counsel and correction, he uses all at his disposal to try to make choices which honor what is good and right and does not only consider himself and his own desires. King Lear did not “see before” what his decisions would lead to even though it was all before him to see. If he had but exercised more prudence than passion, and listened to the wise counsel in his midst, then his story would have been a very different one from that which you are about to read.
Below you will find links to each section of the study guide for Shakespeare’s “King Lear” as they become available. If you would like to pick up a copy of the book to join in the study you may do so by clicking HERE. To see a list of other Great Books study guides already available, in development, or planned for the future you can click HERE.
Lesson 5: Act II, Scenes III-IV
Lesson 6: Act III, Scenes I-IV
Lesson 7: Act III, Scenes V-VII
Always my favorite of the Tragedies. Have you seen Kurosawa’s “Ran”? Not altogether faithful in plot, but in spirit.