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KL good chars; sig of humour and moments of happiness (Absurdity…
KL good chars;
sig of humour and moments of happiness
Fool
#
choric function: comment on Lear's unreasonable behaviour
speaks in proverbs and riddles
Fool "trickle of sanity" -- foil to Lear; marker of normality (Orwell LTF)
Absurdity
Lear's insanity = breakdown of reason
absurdity of his idee fixe
incongruity: what Edgar pretends is on stage isn't there
Noble, elevated speeach from Gl, anticipates "noble, tragic sacrifice" (Knight)
then he falls over.
physical theatricality of theater of Absurd
human existence as unredeamably purposeless
begins with minor domestic trifle
about "an old man locked out on a windy night" (parapharase Tolstoy(
loss of identity
"bare forked animal"; "is man no more than this?"
entertain the populace
jokes
soemtimes lewd
breaking 4th wall and addressing audience
"She's a maid now, and laughs at my depature..."
prophecy 3.2
Edmund
soliloquies may have an exhibitionist nature
extravagant display of force: "why brand they us with base ..."
display of wit re the stars: long list of complaints .... 1.2
Edm pretends to assmue a role in "the old comedy" and waits for a "cue", before pretending to think and sing
pitiful
Lear's madness
Tom's "madness"
Love
Cordelia :hearts: France
France's speech elevates Cordelia
"most rich, being poor, most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised"
intensifiers, <3>
also socially -- to Queen of France
rhyming couplets
WR
: Romeo and Juliet in moments their passion takes root
Love in the most unexpected place
would appear to be a sign of hope, that world doesn't have to be cruel.
however, the King of France turns back to his kingdom and leaves Cordelia to lead the battle
Cordelia :hearts: Lear
love cannot be spoken
C proves her love through her actions. This is her real response to the love test.
healing, redemptive force
destroyed by her death
or not? AI: Lear sees her animated as he dies, sugg afterlife?
Devotion shown by C to L; Edg to Gl
AI C's refusal to play along with love-test could be a spiteful attack on Lear & sisters, releasing of built-up frustration
AI Edg's refusal to identify himself to Gl could be making his father suffer for disowning him.
Devotionn shown by Kent
dares challenge the king
returns to serve him despite threat of death
defends him thrpugh attacking Oswald; stocked for that
accompanies through storm
and beyond death: "my master calls me, I must not say no"
Gloucester's servants
one challenges and kills Cornwall
others swear to help Gl
"I'll never care what wickedness I do, If this man come to good"
planning and method: "Let's follow" / "I'll fetch..."
Religion
hidden Christianity (Guilfoyle)
imagery
Christian/mystery play imagery
1.1 ~ mystery play of Lucifer's fall
3 children; 1 cast out for pride/insolence
playing the parts of Christ
Lear: "humiliation of Christ"
crowned with weeds
the weeds are prickly ~ thorns
Cordelia
: a redeemer: Christ-like figure
Cordelia, a Christ-like figure, must die to redeem Lear
parallels New Testament:
"O death father! It is thy business that I go about"
Lear takes down & carries her body, like Joseph of Arimathia did with Christ's body
"holy water from her heavenly eyes"
Gloucester: "Buffeting and Temptation of Christ" (Christ's interrogation
accompanied by humble people (Edg disguised as a beggar and a peasant)
S could not be explicit as could be accused of blasphemy/too close a contemporary connection w/ James I
ending ~ Last Judgement
ending of world
"is that the promised end?"
absent?
"the gods defend her! ...
enter L with Cd in his arms
pagan gods
L/K swear by Jupiter/Juno