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King Lear

King Lear. Tragic-Comedy. Shakespeare considers it a tragedy for the reasons that the main character leads to his own downfall. But – it has so many sections of comic relief - Audiences can laugh at Lear for awhile because he causes his own downfall from his own greed or vanity. Gore.

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King Lear

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  1. King Lear

  2. Tragic-Comedy • Shakespeare considers it a tragedy for the reasons that the main character leads to his own downfall. • But – it has so many sections of comic relief - Audiences can laugh at Lear for awhile because he causes his own downfall from his own greed or vanity

  3. Gore • Like in The Scottish Play – the gore is almost overwhelming and reminds the audience that this is a tragedy. Even though we have men running around naked with branches in their hair and fools are twisted to be the wise ones, the tragic elements make it more so.

  4. Women • Again – offering an extremely harsh look at the women in the play. They end up being villainous on a new level that rivals Lady Macbeth. They add to the unnaturalness of the chaos in the middle of the play.

  5. Lear • An easy tragic hero for his downfall, and he falls so low, truly becomes a pitiful situation. • Lear causes this himself • Lear leaves the audience in sadness

  6. Nothing • The motif – nothing – is important in the play • Lear is the epitome of being left with nothing • From nothing comes a lesson in morality

  7. The Fool • The wise fool – the fool is the one who knows the most in the play and he is who can be trusted.

  8. Edmund – the bastard • Symbol of revenge • Almost understand his motives

  9. Edgar – the good son • Trusting and dupped by the villains

  10. Gloucester • Probably the character, excepting Cordelia, who is granted the most sympathy in the play. • Horribly mistreated at the hands of Goneril and Regan.

  11. Stage Directions • Many stage directions so that the audience can understand Lear’s dissent into madness. • Shakespeare doesn’t usually exert control over his plays by providing indepth stage directions

  12. Arouse Response • All emotions are involved in King Lear • The response is aroused through several characters and events – from the beginning sympathy is created for the character of Cordelia as she does the correct thing and doesn’t merely flatter her father. • Then as Lear descends – sympathy and laughter and a bit of comeuppance are created through his situations

  13. Arouse Response II • Gloucester is used as a device to bring the audience back to the point of the play and also to arouse further sympathy. • Several aspects of human nature are explored and make King Lear a more encompassing play than many others.

  14. Ask Yourself • How do characters reflect human nature in plays? • Are some dramatic productions one-sided or do they explore many sides of human nature? • How are they explored – shock, pity, fear, gore, etc… • Do they uphold values that people want to believe in?

  15. How is drama a great vehicle to communicate the human condition? • Why do we like dramatic productions? • What is the inner meaning of life that the productions try to expose?

  16. For Act I – As you read • Write down six aspects of human nature that are revealed in Act I – think about the different characters motives • Through what characters • How are these revealed – what does the character do or what is said about him or her • What one character makes the most pronounced or memorable statement of the way people behave and why • What one character will you remember from this act and why

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