The Complete King Lear: An Annotated Edition of the Shakespeare Play

By Donald J. Richardson

Because Julius Caesar has been required reading in most high schools, it may be the Shakespeare play most familiar to students. However, as one reader protested, it cant be much of a play when the hero dies early in the third act. However, many of us have been instructed that Julius Caesar is not the protagonist; Brutus is. This is apparently made clear by Mark Antonys comment over Brutus body in Act V: This was the noblest Roman of them all.

On a closer reading, however, it seems that Brutus is certainly not the noblest. A comparison between Julius Caesar and Brutus reveals many similar traits: both are ambitious, both are quite pompous, and both speak of themselves in the third person. Actually, neither one of them is a model Roman. Perhaps Mark Antony comes closest to being the actual protagonist. One could even advance the argument that Cassius acts most honorably of the plotters; he is certainly the most level-headed; yet Brutus has his way and contravenes Cassius advice repeatedly, always to ill effect. Perhaps none of these men is the true protagonist; maybe there isnt one.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481752954

Donald J. Richardson

Although he has long been eligible to retire, Donald J. Richardson continues to (try to) teach English Composition at Phoenix College in Arizona. He defines his life through his teaching, his singing, his volunteering, and his grandchildren.

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© 2013 by Donald J. Richardson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/20/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-5296-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-5294-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-5295-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013909016

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Table of Contents

About the Book

About the Author

ACT I

ACT II

ACT III

ACT IV

ACT V

Works Cited

Other Books by Donald J. Richardson

Dust in the Wind, 2001

Rails to Light, 2005

Song of Fools, 2006

Words of Truth, 2007

The Meditation of My Heart, 2008

The Days of Darkness, 2009

The Dying of the Light, 2010

Between the Darkness and the Light, 2011

The Days of Thy Youth, 2012

Those Who Sit in Darkness¸ 2013

The Complete Hamlet, 2012

The Complete Macbeth, 2013

The Complete Romeo and Juliet, 2013

For everyone reading King Lear the first time

About the Book

Of the five major Shakespearean tragedies—Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, and Othello—King Lear is perhaps the most challenging. Issues of rulership, family and blood, are overlaid with bastardy, loyalty, lust, and deceit. Add to this the apparently gratuitous on-stage blinding of Gloucester, the deaths of Cordelia, Lear, Gloucester, and Kent, and one might be inclined to agree with Samuel Johnson that The good suffer more than the evil, that love and suffering, in this play, are almost interchangeable terms and the driving force of the action is derived from the power of the evil to inflict mental agony upon the good (quoted in Kermode, 505).

However, one would be mistaken to accept wholeheartedly the happy endings of the eighteenth and nineteenth century revisionists. While the pleasant ending would certainly ease the sensibilities of the audience, it would omit the Aristotlean concepts of hamartia and the purgation of fear and pity attendant upon actually witnessing Shakespeare’s King Lear, the necessary catharsis, a possible scapegoat for our own emotions.

Of course, the ending is to some extent unpleasant and even shocking; however, one can argue that the ending is organic to the play; the ending IS, to a great extent, the play.

About the Author

Teaching is my existence says Donald J. Richardson. After more than four decades of classroom application of his compos mentis, he asserts that he will retire to reading and writing, solis, once he attains the state of non compos mentis.

ACT I

SCENE I. King Lear’s palace.

Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND

KENT

1 I thought the king had more affected the Duke of Affected: loved (Fraser, 3)

2 Albany than Cornwall.   Albany: northern Britain (Riverside, 1,303); Albanacte, whose domain extended ‘from the river Humber to the point of Caithness’ [Holinshed] (Fraser, 3)

GLOUCESTER

3 It did always seem so to us: but now, in the

4 division of the kingdom, it appears not which of

5 the dukes he values most; for equalities are so   Equalities . . . moiety: i.e., shares are so balanced against one another that careful examination by neither can make him wish the other’s portion (Fraser, 3)

6 weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice   Weighed: precisely balanced; curiosity: meticulous scrutiny (Riverside, 1,303)

7 of either’s moiety.   Moiety: portion (Riverside, 1,303)

KENT

8 Is not this your son, my lord?

GLOUCESTER

9 His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have   Breeding: rearing; charge: expense (Riverside, 1,303)

10 so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am

11 brazed to it.   Brazed: brazened, hardened

(Riverside, 1,303)

KENT

12 I cannot conceive you.   Conceive: understand (pun follows (Fraser, 3)

GLOUCESTER

13 Sir, this young fellow’s mother could: whereupon   Could: understand (Brown, 3)

14 she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son

15 for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed.   Ere: before (Bate, 4)

16 Do you smell a fault?   Fault: transgression/loss of scent during a hunt/vagina (Bate, 4)

KENT

17 I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it   Undone: plays on the sense of ‘not copulated with’ (Bate, 4); issue: (1) outcome; (2) offspring (Riverside, 1,303)

18 being so proper.   Proper: (1) excellent; (2) handsome (Riverside, 1,303)

GLOUCESTER

19 But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year   By . . . law: legitimate (Riverside, 1,303); some year: about a year (Bate, 4)

20 elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account:   Dearer: more beloved (plays on the sense of ‘more expensive’) (Bate, 4); account: estimation (Riverside, 1,303)

21 though this knave came something saucily into the   Knave: young fellow (not derogatory); something: somewhat (Riverside, 1,303); saucily: (1) insolently (2 lasciviously (Fraser, 4)

22 world before he was sent for, yet was his mother

23 fair; there was good sport at his making, and the

24 whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this   Whoreson: "(affectionate abuse, but literally applicable, like knave above)" (Harbage, 32)

25 noble gentleman, Edmund?

EDMUND

26 No, my lord.

GLOUCESTER

27 My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my

28 honorable friend.

EDMUND

29 My services to your lordship.

KENT

30 I must love you, and sue to know you better.   Sue: entreat (Fraser, 4)

EDMUND

31 Sir, I shall study deserving.   Deserving: to be worthy of (your esteem) (Bate, 5)

GLOUCESTER

32 He hath been out nine years, and away he shall   Out: away (perhaps abroad or in the house of another nobleman; it was common for a nobleman’s son to be educated in the house of another important family) (Bate, 5)

33 again. The king is coming.

Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants

Sennet: trumpet call signaling the arrival or departure of a procession (Riverside, 1,303)

KING LEAR

34 Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. Attend: wait on, look after (Bate, 5)

GLOUCESTER

35 I shall, my liege.

Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND

KING LEAR

36 Meantime we shall express our darker purpose. Expess: reveal (Brown, 7); darker: more secret (Riverside, 1,303)

37 Give me the map there. Know that we have divided

38 In three our kingdom: and ’tis our fast intent   Fast: firm (Riverside, 1,303); intent: desire (Brown, 7)

39 To shake all cares and business from our age;   To shake: lay aside (Brown, 7); business: official duties/exertion/anxiety (Bate, 5); The unforced and voluntary abdication of a Monarch… is most unusual

(Asimov, 809)

40 Conferring them on younger strengths, while we

41 Unburthen’d crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall, Son: i.e. son-in-law (like Albany) (Bate, 5)

42 And you, our no less loving son of Albany,

43 We have this hour a constant will to publish   Constant will: unshakable intention (Bate, 5); publish: announce publicly (Riverside, 1,304)

44 Our daughters’ several dowers, that future strife   Several dowers: individual dowries; that: so that (Bate, 5)

45 May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy, Prevented: forestalled (Fraser, 5)

46 Great rivals in our youngest daughter’s love,   Great: noble, powerful (Brown, 7)

47 Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, Amorous sojourn: i.e., visit of courtship (Harbage, 33)

48 And here are to be answer’d. Tell me, my daughters,—

49 Since now we will divest us both of rule,   Divest: dispossess (Brown, 7)

50 Interest of territory, cares of state,—   Interest: legal right (Fraser, 5); possession (Bate, 5)

51 Which of you shall we say doth love us most?

52 That we our largest bounty may extend   Bounty: generosity/gift

(Bate, 6)

53 Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril, Where . . . challenge: where natural affection in addition to (other) merit claims it (Riverside, 1,304)

54 Our eldest-born, speak first.

GONERIL

55 Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; Wield: express (Bate, 6)

56 Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;   Space: scope (Fraser, 5)

57 Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;

58 No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor; Grace: virtue (Bate, 6)

59 As much as child e’er loved, or father found;   Found: experienced/discovered the true nature of (Brown, 7)

60 A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;   Breath: voice (Riverside, 1,304); unable: inadequate (Bate, 6); impotent (Brown, 7)

61 Beyond all manner of so much I love you.   Beyond . . . much: beyond all these comparisons (Fraser, 5)

CORDELIA

62 [Aside] What shall Cordelia do?

63 Love, and be silent.

LEAR

64 Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,   Bounds: territories (Bate, 6)

65 With shadowy forests and with champains rich’d, Shadowy: shady (Bate, 6); champains: wooded plains; rich’d: made rich (Riverside, 1,304)

66 With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, Wide-skirted meads: spreading meadows (Orgel,5)

67 We make thee lady: to thine and Albany’s issue Issue: descendants (Fraser, 5)

68 Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter, Perpetual: in perpetuity (Fraser, 5)

69 Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

REGAN

70 Sir, I am made.

71 Of the self-same metal that my sister is,   Self: same; metal: "With some of the sense of modern mettle. (Riverside, 1,304); same material or temperament" (Fraser, 6)

72 And prize me at her worth. In my true heart   Prize . . . worth: esteem myself her equal (in love for you) (Riverside, 1,304)

73 I find she names my very deed of love;   She . . . love: she exactly describes my love (Riverside, 1,304)

74 Only she comes too short: that I profess   That: in that

Riverside, 1,304)

75 Myself an enemy to all other joys,

76 Which the most precious square of sense possesses; Which . . . professes: which the choicest estimate of sense avows (Fraser, 6); square: criterion; as a carpenter’s square (Fitzpatrick, 6)

77 And find I am alone felicitate   Felicitate: made happy (Riverside, 1,304)

78 In your dear highness’ love.

CORDELIA

79 [Aside] Then poor Cordelia!

80 And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love’s

81 More ponderous than my tongue.   Ponderous: weighty (Riverside, 1,304)

KING LEAR

82 To thee and thine hereditary ever   Hereditary: by inheritance (Bate, 7); heirs (Fitzpatrick, 6)

83 Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;

84 No less in space, validity, and pleasure,   Validity: value; pleasure: pleasing features (Riverside, 1,304)

85 Than that conferr’d on Goneril. Now, our joy,

86 Although the last and least; to whose young love   Last and least: Cordelia is the youngest child and therefore ranks below her sisters. (Riverside, 1,304)

87 The vines of France and milk of Burgundy   Vines . . . Burgundy: Lear characterizes France and Burgundy by their assets: vineyards and cattle pastures (Bate, 7)

88 Strive to be interess’d; what can you say to draw   Be interess’d: establish a claim; draw: win (Riverside, 1,304)

89 A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.

CORDELIA

90 Nothing, my lord.

KING LEAR

91 Nothing!

CORDELIA

92 Nothing.

KING LEAR

93 Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.   Nothing . . . nothing: "Echoing the famous Aristotelian doctrine Ex nihilo nihil fit (denied by Christian philosophers in respect of the Creation)." (Riverside, 1,304)

CORDELIA

94 Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

95 My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty

96 According to my bond; nor more nor less.   Bond: duty (Riverside, 1,304); filial obligation (Fraser, 6)

KING LEAR

97 How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little,   Mend: improve (Bate, 7)

98 Lest it may mar your fortunes.   Mar: spoil (Bate, 7; adversely affect" (Fitzpatrick,

CORDELIA

99 Good my lord,

100 You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I   Begot: conceived, fathered; Bred: raised, brought up (Bate, 7)

101 Return those duties back as are right fit,   Return . . . fit: am properly dutiful in return (Riverside, 1,304)

102 Obey you, love you, and most honor you.   Honor you: (echo of Prayer Book marriage service) (Brown, 9)

103 Why have my sisters husbands, if they say

104 They love you all? Happily, when I shall wed,   Happily: haply, perhaps (Riverside, 1,304)

105 That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry Plight: marriage pledge

(Riverside, 1,304)

106 Half my love with him, half my care and duty:

107 Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,

108 To love my father all.   All: above all others; exclusively (Fitzpatrick, 7)

KING LEAR

109 But goes thy heart with this?   Goes: agrees (Brown, 9)

CORDELIA

110 Ay, good my lord.

KING LEAR

111 So young, and so untender?   Untender: hard/cruel (plays on the sense of ‘not young’) (Bate, 7)

CORDELIA

112 So young, my lord, and true.   True: honest (Orgel, 7)

KING LEAR

113 Let it be so; thy truth, then, be thy dower:

114 For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,

115 The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;   Hecate: goddess of witchcraft and of the moon (Riverside, 1,304)

116 By all the operation of the orbs   Operation: influence; orbs: stars (Riverside, 1,204)

117 From whom we do exist, and cease to be; From whom: by the effect of which (Riverside, 1,304)

118 Here I disclaim all my paternal care,

119 Propinquity and property of blood,   Propinquity: closeness; property: identity (Riverside, 1,304)

120 And as a stranger to my heart and me

121 Hold thee, from this, forever. The barbarous Scythian, From this: from this time forth; Scythian: The Scythians’ reputation for barbarity extended back to classical times. (Riverside, 1,304)

122 Or he that makes his generation messes   Makes . . . messes: eats his own offspring (Fraser, 7)

123 To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom

124 Be as well neighbor’d, pitied, and relieved,   Neighbor’d: treated with hospitable kindness (Bate, 8)

125 As thou my sometime daughter.   Sometime: former (Fraser, 7)

KENT

126 Good my liege,—   Leige: lord, one to whom feudal duty and service was owed (Bate, 8)

KING LEAR

127 Peace, Kent!

128 Come not between the dragon and his wrath. Dragon: (1) heraldic device of Britain (2) emblem of ferocity (Fraser, 8); his wrath: the object of its wrath (Riverside, 1,304)

129 I loved her most, and thought to set my rest   Set my rest: (1) stake my all (a term from the card game primero); (2) depend for my repose (Riverside, 1,304)

130 On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my sight! Kind nursery: loving care; avoid: leave (Riverside, 1,304)

131 So be my grave my peace, as here I give So . . . peace: let my only peace be in my grave (Orgel, 7)

132 Her father’s heart from her! Call France; who stirs? Who stirs? Get on with it!/Why don’t you move? (Bate, 8)

133 Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany,

134 With my two daughters’ dowers digest this third: Digest: assimilate (Riverside, 1,305)

135 Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. Let . . . her: i.e., let her pride be her dowry and gain her a husband (Fraser, 8)

136 I do invest you jointly with my power,

137 Pre-eminence, and all the large effects   Effects . . . majesty: accompaniments that go with kingship (Fraser, 8)

138 That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course, Troop with: accompany (Bate, 9); ourself: (the royal ‘we’) (Fraser, 8); by . . . course: month by month (Orgel, 8)

139 With reservation of an hundred knights,   Reservation: the action of reserving a privilege (a legalism) (Fraser, 8)

140 By you to be sustain’d, shall our abode.   Sustain’d: maintained, supported (Bate, 9)

141 Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain

142 The name, and all the addition to a king;   Addition: honors and prerogatives (Riverside, 1,305)

143 The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,   Sway: authority, rule (Bate, 9)

144 Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,

145 This coronet part betwixt you.   Coronet: (the crown which was to have been Cordelia’s) (Fraser, 8)

Giving the crown

KENT

146 Royal Lear,

147 Whom I have ever honour’d as my king,

148 Loved as my father, as my master follow’d,

149 As my great patron thought on in my prayers,—Thought on: remembered (Brown, 11)

KING LEAR

150 The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft. Make from: get out of range of

(Riverside, 1,305)

KENT

151 Let