King Lear (Penguin Shakespeare) [Paperback]

William Shakespeare (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0141012293 | ISBN-13: 978-0141012292 | Publication Date: April 7, 2005

An ageing king makes a capricious decision to divide his realm among his three daughters according to the love they express for him. When the youngest daughter refuses to take part in this charade, she is banished, leaving the king dependent on her manipulative and untrustworthy sisters. In the scheming and recriminations that follow, not only does the king's own sanity crumble, but the stability of the realm itself is also threatened.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born to John Shakespeare and mother Mary Arden some time in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (the precise number is uncertain), a collection of sonnets and a variety of other poems. Stanley Wells is Emeritus Professor of the University of Birmingham and Chairman of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Kiernan Ryan is Professor of English at Royal Holloway, University of London, and a Fellow of New Hall, University of Cambridge. He is the author of Shakespeare (3rd edn, 2002) and the editor of King Lear: Contemporary Critical Essays (1992) and Shakespeare: The Last Plays (1999).

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books (April 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141012293
• ISBN-13: 978-0141012292
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #573,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564, and his birth is traditionally celebrated on April 23. The facts of his life, known from surviving documents, are sparse. He was one of eight children born to John Shakespeare, a merchant of some standing in his community. William probably went to the King's New School in Stratford, but he had no university education. In November 1582, at the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior, who was pregnant with their first child, Susanna. She was born on May 26, 1583. Twins, a boy, Hamnet ( who would die at age eleven), and a girl, Judith, were born in 1585. By 1592 Shakespeare had gone to London working as an actor and already known as a playwright. A rival dramatist, Robert Greene, referred to him as "an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers." Shakespeare became a principal shareholder and playwright of the successful acting troupe, the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later under James I, called the King's Men). In 1599 the Lord Chamberlain's Men built and occupied the Globe Theater in Southwark near the Thames River. Here many of Shakespeare's plays were performed by the most famous actors of his time, including Richard Burbage, Will Kempe, and Robert Armin. In addition to his 37 plays, Shakespeare had a hand in others, including Sir Thomas More and The Two Noble Kinsmen, and he wrote poems, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. His 154 sonnets were published, probably without his authorization, in 1609. In 1611 or 1612 he gave up his lodgings in London and devoted more and more time to retirement in Stratford, though he continued writing such plays as The Tempest and Henry VII until about 1613. He died on April 23 1616, and was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. No collected edition of his plays was published during his life-time, but in 1623 two members of his acting company, John Heminges and Henry Condell, put together the great collection now called the First Folio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good and Evil At Their Most Intense, July 13, 2006

By 

Bradley Headstone "Sean ARES Hirsch" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: King Lear (Penguin Shakespeare) (Paperback)

As far as Shakespeare's tragedies go, I have some respect for "Romeo and Juliet." I think "Timon of Athens" and "Coriolanus" are very underrated. I do not like "Othello" at all. I really like "Macbeth." And along with "Julius Caesar" and "Hamlet," I consider "King Lear" a real masterpiece.

The play starts with the aged King Lear displaying poor judgment by announcing his retirement, and leaving his power to his 2 overly ambitious daughters Goneril and Regan, while banishing is youngest daughter Cordelia (who is worthy of his love and trust). Cordelia ends up getting married to the French King, and thus becomes Queen of France. King Lear also banishes his noble servant Kent (who was also worthy of his love and trust).

In a subplot, the old and kind hearted Gloucester is upset by the king's actions, but ironically, he falls into the same pattern. He (after being deceived by Edmund) declares war on his honorable son Edgar, and puts trust in his monstrously evil son Edmund. By the end of the 1st act, the ever loyal Kent disguises himself, and finds his way back into the king's employ.

At first, Shakespeare leaves it ambiguous as to who we should like. (King Lear was not so likable, and his misuse of power didn't help.) But by the end of the 2nd act, Shakespeare allows us to see that Goneril, Cornwall, and Regan would do the devil proud. Edmund may even outdo these 3! From the end of the 2nd act, Shakespeare shifts our sympathies to Lear, and DOES NOT allow it to slack at all. (Our new sympathy for Lear will in fact intensify throughout.)

While we don't see much of Goneril's virtuous husband Albany until the 4th act, other characters speak of his contempt for Cornwall, so we can see that Shakespeare is getting a heroic role ready for him. This helps build suspense as well as the news of Cordelia's French Invasion. (To restore her father to the throne.)

Kent, Cordelia, and Edgar are quite Christlike. Kent never abandons the king; Cordelia never stopped loving her father; and Edgar continues to love his father. (Edgar's father suffers a horrible injury at the hands of Cornwall at the end of the 3rd act, and Edgar does everything humanly possible for his father.)

It is interesting that Kent and Edgar both continue to love and serve a man who had mistreated them, even to the point of wearing a disguise. Moving on, Lear is eventually reunited with Cordelia, and the scene where Cordelia forgives him is beyond beautiful.

But, Shakespeare does not stop here. Lear's 2 wicked daughters (Goneril and Regan) both want the affection of the evil Edmund, and Goneril plots to have her virtuous husband Albany killed. (Regan's husband Cornwall died at the end of the 3rd act.) To complicate matters further, Cordelia launches her invasion on behalf of her father, and while Albany shares Cordelia's goal, he also feels he has an obligation to protect Britain from invasion.

In an almost Easter fashion, Edgar reappears to challenge his wicked brother Edmund in trial by combat. (It is interesting that while Robert Powell did Jesus in "Jesus of Nazareth," he also does Edgar on an audio version of "King Lear.") But even as Albany, Edgar, and Kent gain control of the situation, Shakespeare has his arguably saddest moment waiting for us.

This play is a perfect cure for Hollywood movies that tend to glorify war. "King Lear" is arguably Shakespeare's most brutal play. But the violence is disturbing even when the virtuous characters are triumphant. The story DOES need the violence, but Shakespeare seems to know here that war and violence are disturbing, and should be portrayed so. Furthermore, the death of one's enemies, may NOT lead to a happy ending.