King Lear Play vs. Movie
King Lear
Summer Reading Report # 1
Alejandro Ramirez
July 28, 2010
Mrs. Colton
King Lear by William Shakespeare tells the tragedy of Lear, King of England, who slowly, throughout the course of the play becomes mad and eventually dies. There have been many film adaptations of the play all of which try and remain as close to the original play; however, none appear to keep the same meaning of Shakespeare’s text more than director Richard Eyre’s film version of King Lear (1997). Shakespeare focuses in on each character’s flaws and their contributions to the consequences at the end of the play and although Eyre does the same in his film, he adds minor actions and scenes to the play to give characters of the play a light that emphasizes their nature.
The solar eclipse that occurs in the first scene of the film adaptation immediately sets a dark, ominous mood. This scene foreshadows the dark events that will occur later on in the film. In contrast to Shakespeare’s play, there is no implication of dark, tragic events to occur later on. The play starts off with a conversation being carried between Gloucester and Kent. The two nobles’ conversation neither foreshadows nor depicts any dark events to happen in the near future. However, Eyre’s film starts off with Edgar watching the eclipse through a smoke glass while Edmund whose face is half hidden by a shadow stares at the legitimate Edgar. The shadow covering Edmond’s face symbolizes the evil half of Edmund that is hidden from the audience as well as the other characters in the play. Up close, the viewer can’t help but to notice that Edmond’s appearance is one of someone in deep thought, a quick smirk suggests that he has plotted something and ready to execute it flawlessly.
When Kent and Gloucester enter, Kent asks if Edmund is Gloucester’s son, Gloucester responds affirmatively, however he mentions that Edmund is only his illegitimate son. Gloucester tone here is a cold and distant. This illustrates
Summer Reading Report # 1
Alejandro Ramirez
July 28, 2010
Mrs. Colton
King Lear by William Shakespeare tells the tragedy of Lear, King of England, who slowly, throughout the course of the play becomes mad and eventually dies. There have been many film adaptations of the play all of which try and remain as close to the original play; however, none appear to keep the same meaning of Shakespeare’s text more than director Richard Eyre’s film version of King Lear (1997). Shakespeare focuses in on each character’s flaws and their contributions to the consequences at the end of the play and although Eyre does the same in his film, he adds minor actions and scenes to the play to give characters of the play a light that emphasizes their nature.
The solar eclipse that occurs in the first scene of the film adaptation immediately sets a dark, ominous mood. This scene foreshadows the dark events that will occur later on in the film. In contrast to Shakespeare’s play, there is no implication of dark, tragic events to occur later on. The play starts off with a conversation being carried between Gloucester and Kent. The two nobles’ conversation neither foreshadows nor depicts any dark events to happen in the near future. However, Eyre’s film starts off with Edgar watching the eclipse through a smoke glass while Edmund whose face is half hidden by a shadow stares at the legitimate Edgar. The shadow covering Edmond’s face symbolizes the evil half of Edmund that is hidden from the audience as well as the other characters in the play. Up close, the viewer can’t help but to notice that Edmond’s appearance is one of someone in deep thought, a quick smirk suggests that he has plotted something and ready to execute it flawlessly.
When Kent and Gloucester enter, Kent asks if Edmund is Gloucester’s son, Gloucester responds affirmatively, however he mentions that Edmund is only his illegitimate son. Gloucester tone here is a cold and distant. This illustrates
References: Shakespeare, William, and SparkNotes Editors. SparkNotes No Fear Shakespeare: King Lear (SparkNotes No Fear Shakespeare). New York: Spark Publishing, 2003. Print. King Lear [VHS]. Dir. Richard Eyre. Perf. Paul Rhys, Finbar Lynch, Timothy West. Wgbh Boston, 1998. VHS.