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King Lear
A tragic play by William Shakespeare, King Lear is one of his most famous works. It deals with themes like violence, pain, agony, family relationships, wealth, greed, cruelty, and insanity. Old age, vulnerability, and extreme emotions are woven into the play about an old king and his daughters. The play was first performed in 1606 on Saint Stephen's Day.
It was revised a few times after the English Restoration to suit the audiences’ demands. People wanted something less dark from plays. In fact, Nahum Tate, an Irish poet, rewrote the play’s ending in the 17th century to change it from tragic to happy. This version was staged for almost 150 years when Edmund Kean, a Shakespearean actor, brought back the original tragic ending in a show in 1823.
From the 19th century, the original play has become known as one of Shakespeare’s best creations. Divided into five acts and multiple scenes, various companies and directors widely adapted King Lear on the stage. It continues to be popular as a tragedy.
History and Background Information
There is no clear evidence about when Shakespeare first published King Lear. Based on various materials available from the period, it is estimated to be between 1603 and 1606. There's a phrase in the play, 'these late eclipses in the sun and moon,' which could possibly refer to the two eclipses in London (27 Sep 1605 and 12 Oct 1605). This puts the play closer to the 1605-06 period.
However, an interesting piece of information is that the content for the modern version of King Lear comes from three sources. Two quartos, Q1 was published in 1608 and Q2 in 1619, and one from the First Folio (F1) in 1623. Q1 has errors that were corrected in Q2. Many people have edited, corrected, and reworked the quartos to create a final modern version with a seamless plot and the best elements from all the previous versions.
Until the 20th century, men played all roles on the stage. When women entered the stage, they mostly played the role of a fool. Famous actors like Emma Thompson, Judy Davis, and Robyn Nevin played the fool, while Marianne Hoppe, Janet Wright, Kathryn Hunter, and Glenda Jackson played the role of King Lear on the stage.
King Lear was also adapted into movies, radio plays, and operas in various countries.
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