I write this essay within the scope of the seminar „Shakespeare’s King Lear” where I have dealt with the topic on several different levels. I got insight into aspects such as madness, cruelty, the role of nature within the play as well as the different versions of King Lear. All these topics were quite fascinating, but as I heard a lot about them in the course of the semester, I decided to pick up a different one in my term paper: Obviously in King Lear we have to deal with a double plot, a main plot and a fully developed subplot, which share important features, but also differ to some extent. I find it interesting to take a closer look on the dynamic relation between the two plots and analyse if and in how far our meaning and understanding of the play is influenced by the mesh between the two plots. As a first step I want to start with a brief summary of the play, presenting the main characters of the two plots. This way we get a rough impression about the protagonists’ involvement in the play and have a basis for the further analysis. Then I want to go deeper and point out how the two stories connect to each other, using some chosen scenes as examples. As a next step I will utilise the results of my analysis and come up with suggestions relating to the intention Shakespeare might have had in mind when he decided to put two plots in the centre of attention. Finally I want to take a critical look on my findings and come up with my own conclusion.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Brief summary
- Analysis of the main plot and the subplot
- Good versus evil
- Greed for power
- Sight and Blindness
- Findings: Why two plots?
- Conclusion
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The essay aims to explore the dynamic relation between the main plot and the subplot in Shakespeare’s *King Lear*. It examines how these two plots intertwine, revealing the play's deeper meaning and influencing our understanding of the themes presented.
- Good versus evil
- Greed for power
- Sight and Blindness
- Parent-child relationships
- Nature and madness
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction provides an overview of the essay's scope and purpose, focusing on the dynamic relationship between the main plot and the subplot in *King Lear*. The brief summary outlines the main characters and plots, highlighting the tragic consequences of Lear's misjudgment and Gloucester's betrayal.
The analysis section explores the interplay between the two plots, focusing on recurring motifs like good versus evil, greed for power, and sight and blindness. It examines how these motifs contribute to the development of the play's central themes and the relationships between the characters.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The essay focuses on the analysis of the main plot and the subplot in Shakespeare’s *King Lear*, exploring themes of good versus evil, greed for power, and sight and blindness. It examines the relationship between the characters, their motivations, and the consequences of their actions. The analysis focuses on the dynamic interplay between the two plots, highlighting the impact of the subplot on the main narrative and its contribution to the play's overall meaning.
- Quote paper
- Alexandra Stoichita (Author), 2006, Analysis of the dynamic relation between the main plot and the subplot in Shakespeare’s 'King Lear', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/87048
