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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Revisiting the play for the first time in over 20 years, it impacted me more deeply this time around. What is this play? An examination of the power of nature? The battle between the values of the Middle Ages vs the values of the Machiavelli? A look at the truth of love against the falseness of flattery? An allegory of the passing of the old and the coming of the new? A Freudian look at the loss of the maternal values? Or a play about madness and psychological decay? It is the unique power of the Bard that it is all those things and more. 3.88 Martinie glasses
Look, it's Shakespeare. Is it good? I dunno. Is it even good Shakespeare? No clue. I will say this, though:
That was bleak and joyless and I liked Macbeth better.
That was bleak and joyless and I liked Macbeth better.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
King Lear Notes
To prepare for this play, I consulted https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Lear, http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/lear/summary.html, and for fun, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g17ziHN59tg :-) I also discovered this site which was very helpful: http://king-lear.org/home
And this was the version I experienced this Russian portrayal: http://king-lear.org/king_lear_film_-_kozintsev / http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064553/
I had read this play years ago, and it didn’t really stick with me. I really enjoyed it this time around probably due to my age and maturity and the intense Russian production.
The play’s themes include that of justice, cruelty, betrayal, and madness where greed and power motivate many of the characters - specially Goneril and Regan. It also looks at man’s sense of judgment (or lack there of). I found this decision regarding “The Fool” interesting: https://sites.google.com/site/4ukinglear/home/the-fool
There is a lot of animal imagery in the play, and I Googled this and found https://sites.google.com/site/4ukinglear/home/animal-imagery It’s interesting to see how many animals are represented ranging from tigers to dragons to butterflies.
Quotes:
“When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools.”
“Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.”
“The prince of darkness is a gentleman!”
“Many a true word hath been spoken in jest.”
“Who is it that can tell me who I am?”
“Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.”
“Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.”
“This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.”
“O, let me kiss that hand!
KING LEAR: Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.”
“When the
mind's free,
The Body's delicate.”
“O! Let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven; keep me in temper; I would not be mad!”
“Thou art a boil, a plague sore, an embossed carbuncle in my corrupted blood.”
“Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind.”
“Through tattered clothes great vices do appear; Robes and furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold and the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks. Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.”
“Love and be silent.”
“He’s mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse’s health, a boy’s love, or a whore’s oath.”
“I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. I love your majesty according to my bond; no more no less.”
“Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, and thou no breath at all?”
“Jesters do oft prove prophets.”
“Humanity must perforce prey upon itself, like monsters of the deep.”
“Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favour'd when others are more wicked; not being the worst stands in some rank of praise.”
To prepare for this play, I consulted https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Lear, http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/lear/summary.html, and for fun, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g17ziHN59tg :-) I also discovered this site which was very helpful: http://king-lear.org/home
And this was the version I experienced this Russian portrayal: http://king-lear.org/king_lear_film_-_kozintsev / http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064553/
I had read this play years ago, and it didn’t really stick with me. I really enjoyed it this time around probably due to my age and maturity and the intense Russian production.
The play’s themes include that of justice, cruelty, betrayal, and madness where greed and power motivate many of the characters - specially Goneril and Regan. It also looks at man’s sense of judgment (or lack there of). I found this decision regarding “The Fool” interesting: https://sites.google.com/site/4ukinglear/home/the-fool
There is a lot of animal imagery in the play, and I Googled this and found https://sites.google.com/site/4ukinglear/home/animal-imagery It’s interesting to see how many animals are represented ranging from tigers to dragons to butterflies.
Quotes:
“When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools.”
“Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.”
“The prince of darkness is a gentleman!”
“Many a true word hath been spoken in jest.”
“Who is it that can tell me who I am?”
“Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.”
“Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.”
“This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.”
“O, let me kiss that hand!
KING LEAR: Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.”
“When the
mind's free,
The Body's delicate.”
“O! Let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven; keep me in temper; I would not be mad!”
“Thou art a boil, a plague sore, an embossed carbuncle in my corrupted blood.”
“Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind.”
“Through tattered clothes great vices do appear; Robes and furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold and the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks. Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.”
“Love and be silent.”
“He’s mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse’s health, a boy’s love, or a whore’s oath.”
“I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. I love your majesty according to my bond; no more no less.”
“Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, and thou no breath at all?”
“Jesters do oft prove prophets.”
“Humanity must perforce prey upon itself, like monsters of the deep.”
“Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favour'd when others are more wicked; not being the worst stands in some rank of praise.”