The Theatrical Rhythm

Abstract

To many of us the plot of King Lear is so familiar that we may not realise, as the first audience must have done, how full of dramatic surprises the play is. In the great final scene for instance, as already indicated, a first-time audience would not know that Cordelia was to die, especially if it was familiar with the old Leir play. Indeed, it may expect the main plot to contrast with the sub-plot, and Lear’s fate to be substantially different from Gloucester’s. After all, we have all the forces of evil displayed dead or dying on stage, except Cornwall who has died earlier. Even when the stage direction says ‘Enter a Gentleman with a bloody knife’, we are uncertain for a while who has been killed, till the bodies of the two sisters are brought in. Then there is the desperate urgency of Edmund’s countermanding order to the Officer, brought to nothing by the poignant entry of Lear bearing Cordelia in his arms.