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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Actually two stories (Lear and his daughters, Gloucester and his sons) that are only loosely related. Lear's story reads a bit like a classic fairy tale, whereas Gloucester's is more typical Shakespeare.
Probably could’ve used with some slowing down and annotating more fully, but I got the gist. Prepping for birthday viewing of Akira Kurosawa’s Ran.
—owned (copy from Suzy Peacocke, originally Calmar school copy, she only annotated the first page).
—owned (copy from Suzy Peacocke, originally Calmar school copy, she only annotated the first page).
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Watched the BBC Adaptation featuring Anthony Hopkins. I felt a bit torn by this play. The metaphor of performance and the relationship between the Fool and Lear was fascinating-> a possible foil? However, despite the dramatic conspiratorial public soliloquies given by Edmund, I wasn't taken in by him as an antagonist. His motivation strikes me, as a modern reader, to be hollow and power hungry-> Okay sure insecurity because he is a bastard which is somewhat saucy for Jacobean England BUT I was neither rooting for nor against him. Wish there was more focus on the daughters as the internal conflict alluded to really spoke to me, particularly between Goneril and Regan. Cordelia seemed intriguing but barely features, at least in the adaptation I have seen.
Key themes that jump out to me are: death/ existence, duplicity, paranoia/ control and power. I wouldn't say this one jumped out to me. The death seen (in the adaptation) with the wheeling out of the sisters (as if on an ekkyklema) really evoked a Greek Tragedy element in its gory exposition. The French conflict felt very sudden.
I think I'll need to read the script and listen to some lectures for Lear and Hamlet because royal political plays feel like I'm missing something.
I think the kind of identity tragedy that I'm drawn to doesn't necessarily manifest itself as clearly here but it could be (is likely I am mistaken) . Can't wait to hear Emma Smith's thoughts on this one!
Key themes that jump out to me are: death/ existence, duplicity, paranoia/ control and power. I wouldn't say this one jumped out to me. The death seen (in the adaptation) with the wheeling out of the sisters (as if on an ekkyklema) really evoked a Greek Tragedy element in its gory exposition. The French conflict felt very sudden.
I think I'll need to read the script and listen to some lectures for Lear and Hamlet because royal political plays feel like I'm missing something.
I think the kind of identity tragedy that I'm drawn to doesn't necessarily manifest itself as clearly here but it could be (is likely I am mistaken) . Can't wait to hear Emma Smith's thoughts on this one!
4.5 stars
This play is mostly about watching the crazy King Lear get even crazier -- but as he gets crazier, he randomly has spurts of wisdom and really tender emotions. So, an endearing crazy man. Although this is technically the main plot, I actually found myself concerned more with the side plot of Edgar. Wrongfully framed by his bastard stepbrother, he becomes a crazy beggar in disguise in order to watch over his father and kingdom. I want to say more, but can't really analyze without spoilers... there's a turn of heart at the end that can seem wildly inconsistent, but somehow didn't ring inauthentic like it did for everyone in my class. As always, I don't want to comment too much on a classic. What's great about this play, like all other Shakespeare plays, is the variety of interpretations that it offers to the reader. Everyone in our class has well-justified alternate interpretations. Less fun to read though, mostly because this is REALLY overwhelmingly gloomy. Still some humor to be found in the crazy characters though.
This play is mostly about watching the crazy King Lear get even crazier -- but as he gets crazier, he randomly has spurts of wisdom and really tender emotions. So, an endearing crazy man. Although this is technically the main plot, I actually found myself concerned more with the side plot of Edgar. Wrongfully framed by his bastard stepbrother, he becomes a crazy beggar in disguise in order to watch over his father and kingdom. I want to say more, but can't really analyze without spoilers... there's a turn of heart at the end that can seem wildly inconsistent, but somehow didn't ring inauthentic like it did for everyone in my class. As always, I don't want to comment too much on a classic. What's great about this play, like all other Shakespeare plays, is the variety of interpretations that it offers to the reader. Everyone in our class has well-justified alternate interpretations. Less fun to read though, mostly because this is REALLY overwhelmingly gloomy. Still some humor to be found in the crazy characters though.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
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
It was too difficult to know who was takling in the audio book version. Might read this in paper format later:)
Read this for English class. It was a joy to analyse. The way the plot is mirrored by the subplot is just great. I even had the pleasure of seeing the play performed live - it gave me newfound appreciation for Gloucester and Edgar.
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes