{"product_id":"1438700-1623-shakespeare","title":"1438700 1623 Shakespeare.  King Lear.  Six Leaves.","description":"10248. \u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKing Lear.  Six leaves extracted from the First Folio of 1623.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(287-288, 291-296, 303-306)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv align=\"center\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e  The bibliography of King Lear is very complex and many editors have maintained that there are two versions, with the Folio text representing the play as actually being performed at the time of its writing (1622-23).  In the Folio, the final speech is given to Edgar who by Elizabethan and Jacobean conventions is the most senior remaining character, much as Fortinbras rules at the end of Hamlet and Malcolm takes the helm in Macbeth.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eIn the Quarto of 1608, Albany delivers the final speech and as husband to the eldest daughter, does indeed have some claim to the crown.  However, nearly all modern productions adhere to the Folio version.  The Quarto was poorly printed and is thought to have come directly from Shakespeare’s “foul papers” (not transcribed into a “fair copy” by a Walter Crane or another professional scribe).   The Quarto contains some 300 lines not in the Folio, whereas Folio has 100 not in Quarto and nearly 1000 lines containing variations of word or phrase.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(287-288).\u003c\/strong\u003e  Edmund the bastard has previously delivered a letter to his father, Gloucester, saying that his brother Edgar has designs on Gloucester’s life.  In this scene we see Edmund sending Edgar away because his life is in danger from Gloucester.  Edmund tells his brother that he will set everything straight and fetch him when the time is right. In a soliloquy, he says that maybe he is a bastard but he will by one means or another get the land that is due his brother.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eLear’s daughter,Goneril, tells her steward Oswald to give short shrift to Lear and his followers. She tells him that if Lear doesn’t like the treatment he can go to his other daughter Regan whom she knows is of a like mind.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eKent, who has been banished by Lear, puts on a disguise and sets out to meet with Lear. He tells Lear that he wants very much to be his servant, Lear gladly accepting.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eLear and his retinue arrive at Goneril’s and are indeed treated harshly by the steward Oswald. Lear rages against him and demands that he see his daughter.  Goneril, knowing that Regan will back her on this, tells Lear that he is old and foolish and has way too many followers. If he does not like it, he can always go and see Regan.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(291-296)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eIn this fragment we see Edmund at his worst telling Gloucester that he tried to dissuade his brother Edgar from killing Gloucester.  He says that in the heat of the exchange Edgar stabbed Edmund and Gloucester sees firsthand the self-inflicted wound of Edmund.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eRegan is pleased with Edmund and we see a glimmer of a spark between Regan and Edmund.  This will grow into something quite dangerous a bit later.  Kent insults one of Regan’s stewards and after a bitter exchange is put by Regan and Cornwall in the stocks. \u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eEdgar puts on his disguise of poor Tom the beggar, the costume consisting primarily of his nakedness save for some ragtag garments he has placed about himself.  Lear arrives and Kent tells him that Regan and Cornwall have put him in the stocks.  Lear refuses to believe it but then finally summons Regan to answer for herself.  Gloucester informs the king that he has told Regan and Cornwall about the King’s wanting to see him. They have said they would come out presently and this sets Lear into a rage. He tells Regan that incredibly Goneril has sent the king away saying he had too many followers with him.  Regan answers that if indeed Lear’s retinue had been a boisterous lot then she could understand why Goneril acted as she did. This of course enrages Lear further.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eGoneril arrives And says that perhaps the king is being so difficult because of his dotage. The two sisters continue to harangue the king saying “what need have you for fifty or twenty-five or even five.  Lear, infuriated, launches into the famous speech “oh reason not the cause”. After the king leaves, a gentleman asks Kent where the king has gone. Kent says I don’t know but he is out contending with the elements.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eNow perhaps the most famous speech in the play - really a rant more than a speech - beginning with “Blow winds and crack your cheeks”. We see Lear, stripped of his property, his family and everything in life stands naked raging against the elements and then lamenting the poor wretches who go through life as unsheltered as he.  Kent discovers him in the storm and while Lear is still raging gently leads him to shelter in a cave.  The fool closes out the scene by declaiming against the situation that has brought the king to this and then joins Lear and Kent in the cave.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(303-306)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eGloucester’s good son, Edgar, who Gloucester does not know is by his side, guides him to what he describes as the very top of a great promontory. Gloucester, who has been blinded by Regan and Cornwall, begs to end his life and Edgar persuades him to jump from this great height and end it thusly.  Gloucester takes what he thinks is a fatal leap and is met by the same man who helped him to jump only he says that the voice has changed somewhat thus recognizing Edgar. Lear appears garlanded and bedecked with flowers and rags rambling on nonsensically about his daughters.  Gloucester believes he recognizes Lear’s voice but Lear does not recognize him.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eEdgar is leading Gloucester away but Oswald intercepts them and tries to kill Gloucester. Edgar fatally wounds Oswald but is told to take a letter from Goneril to Edmund, but Edgar keeps the letter as proof of Edmund’s treachery.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eIn one of the most powerful scenes of the entire play Cordelia approaches the sleeping Lear who only very gradually realizes who it is that is talking to him.  He begs her to forgive him saying he has shown great cause for her to be angry but she replies “No cause.  No cause.”\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eWe see that there is friction between Goneril and Regan, and in a wonderful soliloquy Edmund boasts that both sisters love him and that he will by and by decide which he will take, Goneril or Regan or both. Edmund then says that Goneril’s husband, Albany, intends to be merciful to the captives Lear and Cordelia. It is clear to Edmund that Albany must be removed and no mercy shown to Lear and Cordelia.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eEdmund brings out Lear and Cordelia as captives.  Happy to be reunited, Lear tells her “let’s away to prison\/ We two alone will sing like birds I’th’cage:\/ When thou dost ask me blessing I’ll kneel down\/ And ask of thee forgiveness: so we’ll live.”\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e  Good","brand":"1623","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41033783050413,"sku":"10248","price":20000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0284\/7646\/products\/10248.jpg?v=1636224780","url":"https:\/\/www.nrarities.com\/products\/1438700-1623-shakespeare","provider":"The Gillespie Collection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}