PRODUCTION King Lear [Lier zai ci]
Data Type：production background
Title：Synopsis of Original William Shakespeare's King Lear
Source：King Lear Premiere Program
Place：Taipei
Publisher：Contemporary Legend Theatre [Dangdai chuanqi juchang]
Date：2001/7
Language：English
Abstract：synopsis of the original King Lear
Lear has divided the kingdom into three parts, allotting the largest to Cordelia, his most favored of the three daughters. Lear first addresses his two eldest daughters, asking them to express their love for him before they and their husbands will receive the land he has allotted for them. It is a selfish request and Goneril, the eldest, responds readily. Regan answers his request next, attempting to outdo her sister, and thus says that she has given all of her love to Lear. Cordelia finds her sisters extremely boorish in their exaggerated and completely insincere flattery and refuses to participate. Upon her turn, she tells Lear that she loves him as her duty as a daughter requires but no more, as she will save some of her love for her soon to be husband. Lear becomes extremely angry but Cordelia still refuses to stoop to the level of her sisters. As a result, Lear strips Cordelia of her inheritance and her title. Kent steps in to support Cordelia’s behavior but Lear will hear none of it. Insulted by Kent’s opposition, Lear banishes him from the kingdom. France finds Cordelia more endearing in her sincerity and makes her his wife, Queen of France. Meanwhile, Goneril and Regan plot to take all of Lear’s power out of his hands quickly.
Edmund, Gloucester’s bastard son, vows to steal the land and legitimacy of his half brother Edgar by manipulating both father and brother against each other. His father sees him hiding a letter he is carrying and forces him to show it. It is a fabricated letter from Edgar asking for Edmund’s help in overturning their father. Edmund has Edgar draw his sword and then run off. He wounds himself and pretends it was received in his duel with Edgar because Edgar had wished to kill Gloucester. Gloucester easily believes that Edgar is the one who wants to kill him to seize the scepter, and sends men out to capture Edgar. Edgar flees and disguised as a crazy beggar, poor Tom of Bedlam, to avoid Gloucester’s capture. Meanwhile, Lear’s two daughters treat him rude and plan to drive him out of their residence. Due to his daughters’ coldness and rudeness, Lear approaches madness and roams in the storms. The Fool ridicules his choices: chastising Cordelia, trusting his other daughters, and giving up his authority.
Gloucester confides in Edmund that he has received a letter with news of a movement to avenge the King. He tells him to remain silent on the issue. Gloucester then goes to find Lear, unable to follow the orders of Regan and Goneril, and hopes to take Lear to shelter. Then, Gloucester is brought to Regan and Cornwall, who tie him up, and then Gloucester’s blinded his eyes and Regan notifies Gloucester that Edmund was the one who informed against him. Gloucester realizes that he has wronged Edgar.
After Gloucester got the blind eyes, he prays to be able to see his son Edgar again. When they come upon poor Tom, Gloucester chooses to allow Tom to lead him to a high cliff in Dover, where he can commit suicide. He gives Tom his purse in an effort to better balance the economic inequality of the world. When they reach Dover, Edgar tricks his father into thinking his[sic] has climbed the steep hill. Thus when he tries to fall of the cliff, he merely falls flat. Before he falls, he blesses Edgar. Edgar runs back to him and tells him that it was a miracle that he fell and did not die.
Kent meets the gentleman he sent ahead to Dover and learns that the King of France has had to return, though Cordelia and others remain. Lear stumbles upon Gloucester and Edgar, rambling about the manipulation of his daughters and the evil nature of women. He recognizes Gloucester’s voice and mentions, ignorant of Edmund’s betrayal, how his adulterous ways have been more fortunate than Lear’s legitimate ones. Lear tells him that blindness should in fact help him to see and that pretense is the largest flaw of most in authority.
In addition, Goneril and Regan are in love with Edmund in the meanwhile. Regan questions Edmund as to his relationship with Goneril. He promises that he is not intimately involved with her. Due to the jealousy, Goneril poisoned Regan and then Goneril killed herself for dreading punishment for her crime.
The battle begins. Cordelia and Lear lead one army. However, Edgar hears the news that Lear and Cordelia have been taken prisoner. Cordelia was hanged to death. Lear enters with Cordelia’s body, and becomes inconsolable. And Edmund is killed in a fight. Lear gets back absolute rule and Kent and Edgar are given their rights again. However, still swooning for Cordelia, Lear dies.
Edmund, Gloucester’s bastard son, vows to steal the land and legitimacy of his half brother Edgar by manipulating both father and brother against each other. His father sees him hiding a letter he is carrying and forces him to show it. It is a fabricated letter from Edgar asking for Edmund’s help in overturning their father. Edmund has Edgar draw his sword and then run off. He wounds himself and pretends it was received in his duel with Edgar because Edgar had wished to kill Gloucester. Gloucester easily believes that Edgar is the one who wants to kill him to seize the scepter, and sends men out to capture Edgar. Edgar flees and disguised as a crazy beggar, poor Tom of Bedlam, to avoid Gloucester’s capture. Meanwhile, Lear’s two daughters treat him rude and plan to drive him out of their residence. Due to his daughters’ coldness and rudeness, Lear approaches madness and roams in the storms. The Fool ridicules his choices: chastising Cordelia, trusting his other daughters, and giving up his authority.
Gloucester confides in Edmund that he has received a letter with news of a movement to avenge the King. He tells him to remain silent on the issue. Gloucester then goes to find Lear, unable to follow the orders of Regan and Goneril, and hopes to take Lear to shelter. Then, Gloucester is brought to Regan and Cornwall, who tie him up, and then Gloucester’s blinded his eyes and Regan notifies Gloucester that Edmund was the one who informed against him. Gloucester realizes that he has wronged Edgar.
After Gloucester got the blind eyes, he prays to be able to see his son Edgar again. When they come upon poor Tom, Gloucester chooses to allow Tom to lead him to a high cliff in Dover, where he can commit suicide. He gives Tom his purse in an effort to better balance the economic inequality of the world. When they reach Dover, Edgar tricks his father into thinking his[sic] has climbed the steep hill. Thus when he tries to fall of the cliff, he merely falls flat. Before he falls, he blesses Edgar. Edgar runs back to him and tells him that it was a miracle that he fell and did not die.
Kent meets the gentleman he sent ahead to Dover and learns that the King of France has had to return, though Cordelia and others remain. Lear stumbles upon Gloucester and Edgar, rambling about the manipulation of his daughters and the evil nature of women. He recognizes Gloucester’s voice and mentions, ignorant of Edmund’s betrayal, how his adulterous ways have been more fortunate than Lear’s legitimate ones. Lear tells him that blindness should in fact help him to see and that pretense is the largest flaw of most in authority.
In addition, Goneril and Regan are in love with Edmund in the meanwhile. Regan questions Edmund as to his relationship with Goneril. He promises that he is not intimately involved with her. Due to the jealousy, Goneril poisoned Regan and then Goneril killed herself for dreading punishment for her crime.
The battle begins. Cordelia and Lear lead one army. However, Edgar hears the news that Lear and Cordelia have been taken prisoner. Cordelia was hanged to death. Lear enters with Cordelia’s body, and becomes inconsolable. And Edmund is killed in a fight. Lear gets back absolute rule and Kent and Edgar are given their rights again. However, still swooning for Cordelia, Lear dies.
