ENGL 348 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Morality Play, Dream Vision, Everyman
Document Summary
Aspects central to construction of king lear: renaissance dramatic & non-dramatic genres, variety of different perspectives on meaning of characters & scenes. Invading genres: burlesque (form of parody popular in renaissance) Seen in antics of fool in mock trial where lear sets up court. Fundamental human needs for love, justice, identity, self-knowledge: themes, plots & conventions of romantic comedy, ex. Edgar wants to be champion (has no lady to woo: ex. Return of cordelia to rescue father: romance offers promises of happy ending & audience gratification. Lear"s rebirth is swiftly followed by pain & immediate death: promises are not fulfilled, play raises our hopes, morality play structure in plot w/ lear as everyman. Lear"s own visions of universe: none shall be punished since all are sinners, blindness to general acts of love & decency, courtly comedy, ex. Stiff schematic form which gives order to play: momentary affirmations of goodness & courage, some versions of king lear have happy endings.
