This essay is about the construction of the plot in King Lear. Throughout the essay I will refer to the quarto text The History of King Lear.
As for the construction of the plot both form and content will be taken into consideration. Since a tragedy is normally characterized by the rise of a conflict that terminates in a catastrophe, I intend to deal especially with those aspects of form and content which relate to the conflict that is significant for King Lear.
With regard to this conflict several questions can be asked. First of all there is the question of what constitutes the conflict and which different forms this conflict takes. Furthermore we need to examine whether the structure of the play and the development of the conflict correspond with each other. Moreover I would like to point out some traits of the construction, such as the double-action, which seem to be special about King Lear.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Exposition
3. The Development of the Conflict
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This essay explores the construction of the plot in William Shakespeare's "King Lear," specifically focusing on the quarto text "The History of King Lear." By analyzing the interplay between form and content, the author examines how the play's structure, including its double-action, contributes to the development of both the outer conflict and the protagonist's inner struggle.
- Analysis of the play's exposition and its role in establishing character dynamics.
- Examination of the double-action narrative structure and its effect on plot independence.
- Investigation into the relationship between the tragic hero’s inner psychological state and the outer conflict.
- Comparative study of motifs between the main plot and the sub-plot involving Gloucester.
- Evaluation of how the play deviates from conventional tragic construction patterns.
Excerpt from the Book
2. The Exposition
The function of an exposition in general is to set a situation, scenery out of which the further plot can develop. The main characters are introduced, the reader is shown how the characters are related to each other and what the circumstances of their lives are like. In a tragedy, however, the exposition has to contain an additional aspect. Since the conflict is a necessary element in a tragedy, the situation displayed in the exposition needs to have some traits which can give rise to such a conflict. Therefore the exposition hints at difficulties which initiate a conflict and finally the catastrophe, which is also a means to arouse the audience’s interest and attention. So the exposition gives a lot of information, and its design is decisive for the development of the play.
The first scene in King Lear starts with a short conversation between Kent, Gloucester and Edmund, in which some information about Edmund’s relation to his father is given. Then the conversation is interrupted by Lear’s entrance, who immediately declares that he intends to divide his kingdom and thus sets the action going. Later on in the play the division of his kingdom and above all the fact that he rejects Cordelia, who unlike Gonoril and Regan really loves him, turn out to be fatal faults. But as early as the first scene we notice that Lear is wrong in doing so. Gonoril’s and Regan’s speeches, which seem to be overdone and show their hypocrisy, Kent’s warning, Cordelia’s honest behaviour and her way of reproaching her sisters indicate that deep conflicts will be caused by this event.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the essay, noting the focus on the quarto text and the intention to analyze the relationship between form, content, and the development of the conflict.
2. The Exposition: This section discusses how the first two scenes set the stage for the play, characterizing the main figures and establishing the basis for both the main plot and the sub-plot through a double-action structure.
3. The Development of the Conflict: This chapter analyzes how outer conflicts and inner struggles are interdependent, examining Lear’s decline, the significance of the storm, and how motifs are mirrored in the Gloucester subplot.
4. Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that Lear’s mental journey and the structure of the double-action provide a general significance to the tragic events of the play.
Keywords
King Lear, plot construction, tragedy, conflict development, exposition, double-action, inner struggle, filial ingratitude, characterization, literary analysis, dramatic structure, Shakespeare, madness, catastrophe, sub-plot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic essay?
The essay explores the architectural construction of the plot in "King Lear," focusing on how the narrative form and content collaborate to present the play’s tragic conflict.
Which version of the play is used as the primary source?
The author primarily refers to the quarto text titled "The History of King Lear."
What is the central research question regarding the conflict?
The work examines what constitutes the conflict in the play, how different forms of the conflict emerge, and whether the play's structure corresponds to the progression of these conflicts.
How does the author characterize the double-action in the play?
The author argues that the existence of two separate expositions for the main plot and the sub-plot stresses their independence and gives the motifs a more general, abstract significance.
What methodology is applied to the analysis?
The essay utilizes a structuralist approach, examining both the formal layout of the play (exposition, climax, catastrophe) and the psychological development of the characters, supported by established literary criticism.
Which character serves as the secondary focus for the study of motifs?
Gloucester is the secondary focus, as his experience mirrors Lear’s, particularly regarding filial ingratitude and a journey toward insight through suffering.
Does the author consider Lear's madness a purely negative aspect?
No, the author notes that while Lear’s madness marks a climactic peak of the conflict, it also serves as a process of learning, leading to a growth in insight and a softening of his character.
How does the author explain the deviation from conventional tragic patterns?
The essay explains that while traditional tragedies follow a specific rise and fall pattern of the hero, "King Lear" deviates because Lear becomes a passive figure after the storm, with other characters taking the lead in the action.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Jens Saathoff (Author), 1993, The Construction of the Plot in `King Lear´, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/181031
