Jan 9, 2009

King Lear | Overview

In this informal, almost conversational, essay on King Lear—developed from his lectures to undergraduate students over many years—Northrop Frye ranges widely across many aspects of the play as he outlines its tragic vision. As he takes up several thematic issues, he also offers commentary on Lear, Cordelia, Goneril and Regan, Edmund, and Edgar.

Northrop Frye
[In this informal, almost conversational, essay on King Lear—developed from his lectures to undergraduate students over many years—Frye ranges widely across many aspects of the play as he outlines its tragic vision. He describes the Elizabethan concept of order or hierarchy in nature and the different levels of existence in King Lear: the supernatural, the human, physical nature, and the demonic world. Frye also discusses the association of the word "nothing" with loss of identity and remarks on the various meanings of the word "fool" in the play....