King Lear Dr. Ema Vyroubalova,

December 26, 1606, 1st recorded performance, Royal Court

First printed version: 1608 (“1st Quarto)

First Folio, 1623, 1st “Collected Works”

Title page of King Lear, 1623, “First Folio”

The battle ends quickly with the defeat of Lear and Cordelia (5 The battle ends quickly with the defeat of Lear and Cordelia (5.2), who are sent to a prison. Edmund orders their execution on his own authority. Albany then reveals to Edmund that he has incriminating evidence against him and that a challenge to him has been made by an unknown knight—Edgar in yet another disguise. Regan falls ill and must be taken to her tent, and Goneril tells the audience in an aside that she has poisoned her to avoid losing Edmund to her. When Albany confronts her with letters showing she had asked Edmund to kill Albany and marry her, she exits and commits suicide off stage (5.3). Edgar appears with his visor closed and without giving his name in his challenge to Edmund. The two fight, Edmund is wounded, the two brothers exchange forgiveness, and Edmund asks that his order to execute Lear and Cordelia be revoked. A messenger is sent, but it is too late. Lear enters carrying the body of the dead Cordelia and mourning over his great loss. A messenger informs us that Edmund has died of his wounds, but Albany remarks, “That’s but a trifle here” (5.3.294). Lear puts Cordelia on the ground and calls for a mirror to see if her breath will fog it. He dies, exclaiming, “Look there, look there!” (5.3.310). Albany and Edgar are invited to assume the leadership of the “gored state,” but Albany declines, saying he must soon follow Lear. The play ends with somber words on the suffering we have witnessed. Grady, Hugh. "King Lear". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 11 August 2004 [http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4216]

Samuel Johnson: “I was many years ago so shocked by Cordelia’s death, that I know not whether I ever endured to read again the last scenes…”

Nahum Tate’s version, 1681

LEAR: And my poor fool is hanged. No, no, no life? Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, And thou no breath at all? Thou 'lt come no more, Never, never, never, never, never.— (5.3.369-372)

Re Lir, Gerolamo Lo Savio, 1910 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4mcBoK8xv4

Korol Lir, dir. Grigorii Kozintsev, 1971 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFkNen7sqw0

Ran, dir. Akira Kurosawa, 1985 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Nb5SiYvQ4