Shakespeare's Lear

Melvyn Bragg and guests examine Shakespeare's bloodthirsty tragedy, King Lear. With Catherine Belsey, Jonathan Bate and Katherine Duncan-Jones.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Be fair, Melvyn Bragg keeps the speakers to the point, and speaks with affection, making the anxious speakers easier to bear . . but surely what we need to remember is that actors, however they interpret King Lear, must wok for months to be realistic, genuine, truthful, to have their souls involved in the discussion of life and death in this horrendously deep play. It is the acting that is difficult - real acting - in the name of all Heaven, which in this play demands a depth which few actors in the world achieve, or are allowed to achieve, or manage to achieve for more than one or two performances in their whole lives! John Windsor-Cunningham

[@arthurfrancisd.murphy1643]

Excellent to have this available for anyone who wants to get at the darknesses of this play

[@robertlight5227]

The discussion is the very best on the many facets of Lear. Well done indeed!

[@keyboarddancers7751]

Excellent prep for my first experience of the play next week - Don Warrington at Manchester Royal Exchange.

[@MishJaya]

Thank you so much for this. This has helped me so much.

[@JAMAICADOCK]

Lear is set in pre Christian England - but is really about the 1500s. I.e. Henry VIII, the Reformation, Bloody Mary, Elizabeth, Mary Queen of Scots, Lady Jane Grey etc. Of course for fear of his head, Shakespeare spoke in metaphors and allegory.

[@jameswbell7084]

How it can be said that Lear hasn't learned much is ludicrous (31:29) He is essentially an older version of Hamlet in the sense he has had his illusions shattered and recognises himself as both betrayed and a vulnerable mortal man beneath the elements as did Edgar and Gloucester.

[@freindlybookworm]

Thank you for the upload!! much appreciated! :)

[@syourke3]

I think that Lear's men were not a bunch of drunken louts. He was not a drunken lout himself and would never have tolerated such low behavior in his retinue. I think it far more probable that his two monster daughters intend to deprive Lear of the last remnants of his royal powers. They want to render him completely helpless so that he cannot offer them any resistance. As long as Lear has a retinue of 100 knights, he still has some power to resist them. I believe Lear when he insists his men are orderly gentlemen.

[@b.alexanderjohnstone9774]

Me too. Typical brilliant Shakespeare though leaves it not quite nailed down (I never got any of that at school but it would be a great way in for teenagers - before sending them into the mystifying text).

[@JWP452]

Melvyn Bragg won't STF up.

[@RavenMadd9]

thank you

[@paulharris3000]

Having spent quite a bit of time over the years - with this play, I still find it hard to sympathize with Lear. He IS hard headed and irascible - OK... but his utter lack of consideration of his adult daughters when faced with reasonable requests - is just reprehensible! I agree with Regan that: "... To willful men, the injuries that they themselves procure must be their schoolmasters..." and even better, Goneril: ...'Tis his own blame hath put himself from rest, and must needs taste his folly..."

[@mastaaceexclusive]

one must contend that Lear was a 'spoiled' prince who grew up naiive and never learned the true attributes of being a good and noble king.

[@123lisacon]

@sabthepanda @heylookitssab

[@TheWhitehiker]

plot summary for cheating students?

[@GAZDAGP]

Well tell me that man in the painting isn't Jewish

[@apemantus67]

The man in the painting isn't Jewish.

[@GAZDAGP]

How do you know? You did a gene test on him?

[@teacooper6485]

the fuck?

[@ro7311]

Thanks. It seems such a bloody play, confusing and idiotic.

[@tracksuitjim]

dude, what? you thought king lear was idiotic? lolol

[@ro7311]

absolutely friggin insane....