This paper will first of all take a look at the different prints we have of Shakespeare's King Lear and at the reasons for the discussion over the editorial and textual concept of the play. Therefore it presents some of the scholar's opinions towards this debate. The second part analyses three passages from the Quarto and the Folio1 version, which differ from each other, and the last part of this paper will try to give a solution towards the discussion upon the treatment of King Lear.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Texts of King Lear
2.1 The Quarto No° 1
2.2 The Quarto No° 2
2.3 The Folio No° 1
3. Significant Differences
3.1 The Missing Mock Trial
3.2 Albany vs. Edgar
3.2.1 Albany
3.2.2 Edgar
3.3 Cordelia
3.3.1 doue loue vs. speake loue
3.3.2 Cordelia Rising
3.3.3 The Missing 4.3
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this term paper is to examine the editorial and textual complexities surrounding William Shakespeare's "King Lear," specifically addressing the discrepancies between the early Quarto editions and the First Folio. The work investigates whether these variations result from authorial revision or external factors such as theatrical adaptation, censorship, and printing errors.
- Textual history of Quarto and Folio editions of King Lear
- Editorial controversies and the "two-text-theory"
- Comparison of character development regarding Albany and Edgar
- Analysis of Cordelia's portrayal across different textual versions
- The impact of theatrical cuts, such as the omission of the mock trial
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 The Missing Mock Trial
The mock trial consists of about 100 lines that are only printed in the Quarto. The Folio version keeps only half of the lines that are in Q, combines other speeches from the Quarto into one, and adds some new material to where the original text from Q1 was cut out. The cut in F1 causes a scene that is very short and ends as quickly as it originally began. (cf. Urkowitz 17)
The event that lead to the mock trial starts off in 3.4 with Kent who leads King Lear and the Fool through a storm. They are looking for shelter and find a house in which they find Edgar in disguise as the mad babbling beggar Tom O'Bedlam. In Act three, scene four Lear appears madly lucid, because his “two daughters” (3.4.48) are unkind traitors, whom Lear denounces in an act of madness.
The mock trial, however, is not held until 3.6, when Lear, still mad and lucid, arraigns the imaginary Goneril and Regan before the court, which is played by Edgar, Kent and the Fool. It is questionable, whether the audience understood the essence of this scene, because it can be seen as very ironic due to the powerful representatives of justice: a naked beggar (Edgar in disguise), a fool (the king's Fool) and a serving-man (the exiled Kent). This may be one reason why it was omitted from F1: Because the audience laughed at it during the performance.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the central editorial controversy regarding the textual integrity of King Lear and the conflict between the Quarto and Folio versions.
2. The Texts of King Lear: Discusses the physical prints and historical context of the Quarto and Folio editions, noting the lack of a primary original manuscript.
3. Significant Differences: Analyzes specific variations between texts, focusing on the omission of scenes and shifts in character roles.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the scholarly debate on whether the variations reflect Shakespeare's own revisions or external editorial interference.
Keywords
King Lear, William Shakespeare, Quarto, Folio, Textual Criticism, Editorial Problems, Mock Trial, Cordelia, Albany, Edgar, Two-Text-Theory, Revision, Theatrical Adaptation, Manuscript, Renaissance Drama
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper focuses on the editorial and textual problems associated with the different versions of Shakespeare's King Lear, specifically comparing the Quarto and Folio editions.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central themes include textual integrity, the debate over Shakespeare's authorial revision, the impact of theatrical performance on text, and character evolution across different prints.
What is the primary goal of the research?
The primary goal is to investigate the reasons behind the significant differences in lines and character representations between the Quarto and the Folio versions of the play.
What research methods are employed?
The paper utilizes a comparative analysis of primary texts (Quarto and Folio) combined with a critical review of existing scholarly theories regarding editorial and theatrical history.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section analyzes three major differences: the omission of the mock trial, the evolving roles of Albany and Edgar, and the differing portrayals of Cordelia.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include King Lear, Textual Criticism, Quarto, Folio, Editorial Problems, and Shakespearean Revision.
Why was the mock trial scene omitted in the Folio?
The paper suggests it may have been cut due to staging difficulties, as the scene's tragic tone was undermined by audience laughter, or to improve the play's pace.
How does the role of Albany differ between the versions?
In the Quarto, Albany is presented as a stronger candidate for future rule, while in the Folio, his lines are reduced, leading to a different interpretation of his character's authority.
How is Cordelia's character affected by textual variations?
Textual differences, such as the omission of scene 4.3 in the Folio, change Cordelia from a powerful, active presence in the Quarto to a more incidental figure in the Folio.
Does the author conclude that Shakespeare revised the play?
The author argues that it is highly plausible that Shakespeare himself revised the play for theatrical reasons, although no definitive proof exists due to the loss of the original manuscripts.
- Citar trabajo
- Fran Spring (Autor), 2011, Textual and Editorial Problems in Shakespeare's King Lear, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1024752
