King Lear

Alternative title

Lear

Synopsis

Radio broadcast. In this episode of the programme on the history of ideas, host Melvyn Bragg discusses Shakespeare’s King Lear with guests Jonathan Bate, Catherine Belsey and Katherine Duncan-Jones. Issues debated include the unification of Britain in the time of King James and how Shakespeare responded to this through his play. Catherine Belsey relates the source of Lear as a ritualistic Christian folk tale which ended happily and shows how Shakespeare subverted the tale into something chaotic and pagan, robbed of poetic justice. Bate speaks of language breaking down and the parallels between Lear and Ancient Greek tragedy. The power of the family, the importance of land ownership and love and measurement are debated. Bate speaks about the different endings of Lear in the various versions of the text. Melvyn Bragg comments that the play went out of fashion; Nahum Tate’s version played for 150 years and was revived by the Romantics - Keats loved the play. Katherine Duncan-Jones says the play is about how we deal with longevity and the place of humans in the natural world - both important issues for the 21st century. Bate notes that we know little of how the play was received in Shakespeare’s time but comments that from this point Shakespeare turned to the late play romances.

Series

In Our Time

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Multimedia; Radio

Transmission details

28 Feb 2008 at 09:00 (Channel: BBC Radio 4)

Duration

45 mins

Credits

Producer

James Cook

Contributor

Catherine Belsey; Jonathan Bate; Katherine Duncan-Jones; Melvyn Bragg

Additional Details

Production type

Documentary/Educational/News

Plays

King Lear

Subjects

Drama; History

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); alternative endings

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Archive

Name

British Library Sound Archive

Email

listening@bl.uk

Web

http://www.bl.uk/nsa External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7412 7676

Fax

020 7412 7441

Address

96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB