Hierarchical collection of pages (posts) for King Lear, including material for McKellen film, the play itself, background on the play, creative engagement with the play, educational material for teaching the play, and ways to have fun with the play.
Cordella, in church, in a long romantic soliloquy, praises her God for her good fortune, but wishes for the thing she cannot have, her father’s love. But she then blames her sisters, not him, but reverses course, and forgives all, as she is forgiven by ...
Cornwall wonders at Leir’s absence. Gonorill says he has gone to visit her sister, unannounced, to see how she fares and that he’ll be back. To make sure, Cornwall decides to send a message asking if Leir has arrived there, and exits. Gonorill sees her ...
Alone, Ragan extols her state of rule, “of Cambria as I please,” and laments her sister’s plight, still under the thumb of their father, whom, should he deign to settle upon her, she would “send him packing” by entertaining him “with such slender cost that ...
Leir is depressed. Cornwall tries to cheer him up, but Leir hears none of it. Cornwall appeals to an entering Gonorill to help, but Leir suggests that she would rather see him dead than alive. (Curious that Cornwall seems to know nothing of what seems ...
Gonorill complains to Skalliger that Leir demands too much of her, and complains bitterly at every expense. She alone bears his expenses while Ragan goes free. What should she do “to rid me of this woe”? He recommends cutting his allowance in half, the better ...
In a monologue, Perillus reports that Leir has gone to Cornwall, but that Gonorill treats him horribly. Despite his patience and forbearance, she abuses him and shames him, and has taken away half his pension. He hopes to counsel Leir as best he can. Scene ...
Mumford and the Gallian King come in as pilgrims. Mumford calls him “my lord” twice, rebuked by the king, who decides they shall call themselves “Tresillus” and “Denapoll.” Mumford thinks these names absurd, so they choose Will and Jack. Cordella enters, a fairer creature then ...
Gonorill and Ragan wonder about Cordella’s absence, but gloat at having helped her fall, as they are both insanely jealous of her beauty. A sexual joke ensues, on parsons and nothing. They espy the arrival of Cambria and Cornwall. Leir comes in, determined in his ...
Cornwall, going to Leir to accept the invitation to marry Gonorill, meets Cambria, also going to Leir to accept the invitation to marry Ragan and share with Cornwall the present kingdom. They are marveling at their luck, but wonder about rare and beautiful Cordella, who ...
The Gallian King desires to go to England and attempt to marry one of Leir’s daughters. His follower Mumford wishes to go as well, so that he might woo the English girls. The king talks Mumford into going as companions disguised as pilgrims or monks. ...
