Imagine you have seen either a Feminist, Marxist, or Aristotelean production of King Lear. You are to present a discussion of the Feminist, Marxist, or Aristotelean interpretation of the play and how it differs from your own.
When looking at King Lear there are many interpretations to consider. One of these is looking at King Lear from a feminist point of view. After seeing a production which focused on this interpretation I now have a greater understand of what quotes and language techniques show this and also what staging elements emphasis this overall interpretation.
King Lear is one of Shakespeares tragedies, therefore the representation of values in the text are likely to be taken from real life. Throughout the play women are represented as subservient to males. However, they also try to assert power. This power assertion eventually leads to their downfall e.g. Gonerill and Regan both die after receive control of the kingdom. In the production which I saw, I found that the two of the most important scenes were Act 1, scene 1 and Act 2, scene 4.
Act 1, scene 1 is obviously the establishment of the play and therefore one of the most important scenes when looking at the position of women. The first thing I noticed in the production was the positioning of women during each scene. Whenever they entered the room they would always enter after the males. Also, the male characters, with Lear in the highest position, stood on a platform above females. Lears word choice when referring to Gonerill and Regan objectifies them. For example in the line Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall (1, i, 63) we see that the women are identified by their relationships with men. To indicate how the women are associated with men, the play had the females wearing all black with a sash the same colour as their husbands costumes and for Cordelia no sash until France asks for her hand. From the beginning we see that Lears daughters are forced to play Lears game to win the kingdom he expects them to participate due to their responsibility to him. In this scene Gonerill and Regan act submissive to Lear but as the play progresses we see that they eventually exert power by them moving to the higher platforms of the stage over Lear. This was especially effective when Regan asks What need one? (2, iv, 257). This is point in the play where Lears position is undermined by his daughters. In Act 1, scene 1 we can also see how powerful the patriarchal society is through Cordelias asides, her worry highlights how powerful her father is. Cordelia is a supporter of the patriarchal society throughout the play; however Lear does not recognise this. We can see her support by the way she defines herself in terms of her father and husband Happily, when I shall wed, / That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry / Half my love with him, half my care and duty (1, i, 95-7). During the play I felt that the use of light when Lear disowns Cordelia was important. The back lighting cast a shadow on Lear and emphasised his words Here I disclaim all my paternal care (1, i, 107) which causes suspense and therefore shows that the Patriarch must be respected.
The characterisation of the Fool during the production was important as he highlights to the audience the mistake Lear makes when he placed Gonerill and Regan in control i.e. female control. For the areas in which the Fool gives advice, Lear and him were on the same levelling and the lighting was dark, therefore the emphasis was put on speech not the characters. This happened during lines such as Thou hadst little wit in they bald crown / when thou gavst they golden one away. (1, iv, 125-6) and Since thou madst they daughters / they mothers; for when thou gavst them the rod and putst down thin own breeches. (1, iv, 133) Using the low lighting I found I concentrated on the imagery used by the Fool which highlighted Lears mistakes. Also we can recognise that the Fool always use prose when speak to Lear, this form of speech is less flowery and more honest, therefore we realise that the Fool is speaking the truth. This use of the Fools characterisation carries over into Act 2, Scene 4 another important scene in the play. We begin to see that Lears loss of power is causing him to experience weaker and more female responses, e.g. O how this mother swells up towards my heart! / Hysterica passio! Down, thou climbing sorrow. (2, iv, 52-3) These female emotions were emphasised within the production with the blasting sound of the trumpet. This was also used later in the scene when Lear states Touch me with noble anger, / And let not womens weapons, water drops, / Stain my mans cheeks. The most important part of this scene is the way in which the rising storm is portrayed. The lights began to flicker between low and back lights casting shadows. At this point Lears reference to supernatural elements indicates that female power is something unnatural, which has caused a storm and tempest results. After his curse he kneels before Gonerill and Regan while the storm begins and the lights then go off and the voices are what remain. In the play the storm was portrayed as a symbolic result of the powerful positions women have taken. By the end of the storm the females are beginning to experience their downfall. The restoration of a patriarchal society is affirmed when at the ending of the play Albany says Friend of my soul, you twain / Rule in this realm and the gored state sustain. (5, iii, 293-4) The irony is that all the rulers left are male, ready to restore a realm ruined by female control.
When looking at King Lear, my own interpretation relates to how fate and fortune are important in creating a balance in the play between harmony and disharmony. Instead of considering females as the cause of disharmony I have considered that fate and fortune have determined the fate of many characters.
Lears character is determined by fate. There are many allusions to his downfall throughout the play. The characters of Kent and Cordelia are seen as trustworthy, their characterisation makes them a reliable source to the audience. It is their quotes in Act 1, Scene 1 which indicate to us Lears eventual downfall. For example Kent says When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man?(1.1.140) and When majesty falls to folly.(1.1.143) When Lear casts out Cordelia and Kent he calls upon the gods. This constant connection to the supernatural elements indicate how Lears life is controlled by fate e.g. the line when disowning Cordelia he says For by the sacred radiance of the sun / The mysteries of Hecate and the night / by all the operation of the orbs / From who we do exist and cease to be.(1.1.103-6) In this line the word choice shows how much of a connection there is between the characters in the play and the gods. When staging my interpretation I would like to concentrate greatly on this use of supernatural elements. To emphasis these sections I would use a back lighting casting shadows so only silhouettes are present. This will create a mysterious feel and also I would add some soft but sharp and commanding music into the background e.g. the beginning of Tchaikovskys Piano Concerto No.1 in B Flat Minor. With this I hope to create a surreal atmosphere indicating the importance of fate during this play.
The character of the Fool is important in both interpretations as he emphasises the coming of disorder from fate and feminine power. When the Fool appears on stage I would like to indicate how important his wisdom is. I believe I can achieve this by using levels to ensure the Fool is always higher than Lear during his important speeches. In particular moments of information I would like to have the Fool leaning over Lear, making an imposing figure. In Act 2, Scene 4 the Fool often offers his views on the changing fate and fortunes of Lear. He makes a comment to Kent about the wheel of fortune, Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break they neck with following. But the great one that goes upwards, let him draw thee after (2.4.65-7). Throughout the play the Fool tends to speak using songs or prose. As mentioned for the feminist interpretation this is different from many of the other characters and emphasises his differing attitudes towards the main characters. The treatment of the Fool by Lear is different to the way in which he treats the other characters. This connects with fate and fortune, as the inclusion of the Fool emphasise to the audience the role of fate. Another example of the Fool reference to fate and fortune is the in line He that has and a little tiny wit, / With heigh-ho, the wind and the rain / Must make content with his fortunes fit (3.2.72-5).
As for the feminist interpretation the remaining characters of Edgar, Kent and Albany are symbolic, by for a different reason. Throughout the play these characters make very little reference to the gods, nor do they blame any part of their lives on something they cannot control. These characters are not the cause of the disorder created in the play; however they must deal with the consequences. When Albany states in the conclusion of the play All friends shall taste / The wages of their virtue, and all foes / The cup of their deserving (5.3.276-8) this can be seen to have a connection with fortune. During Act 2, Scene 4 when the storm occurs, I would have a darkening in the lighting scheme. I would like to keep this dark atmosphere until the conclusion of the play. When Albany says the above line I would like the lights to suddenly brighten, as if the wheel has been completed. To add to this emphasis a visual image will be created by the characters moving to the centre of the stage and creating a semi circle facing the audience, therefore showing that fate and fortune have restored order.
We can see from the above that different interpretations of King Lear can easily be draw from just two scenes. Through staging ideas, seen in the feminist production and imagined by myself, I can understand how different interpretations can be realised on stage.
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