Seeing Storms and Madness

Seeing Storms and Madness

It has been said that King Lear is one of Shakespeare's most intricate plays. It has also been said that Shakespeare's plays are meant to be performed, not read. In 1983, Michael Elliott directed the play “King Lear,” for television, utilizing a kind of Stonehenge setting. This production featured Laurence Olivier as Lear, David Threlfall as Edgar, Dorothy Tutin as Goneril, Diana Rigg as Regan, and Anna Calder-Marshall as Cordelia. King Lear may be Shakespeare's greatest play and very likely the greatest work in all of literature, and its themes are of the most profound nature: redemption, self-realization, parable of universal justice, and the fortuitousness in the battle between good and evil. Consequently, we find that this is about a man, King Lear, who fights an epic and magnificent struggle against overwhelming physical and emotional turmoil and whose implacable refusal to surrender make him one of the greatest, most towering and passionate tragic characters ever created. The actor portraying Lear can't drive the torment, confusion, and bewilderment that emanates from Lear – he must drive the man himself. Therefore, the acting, costumes, and special effects and lighting play a significant role in unfolding the meaning behind the words of King Lear, unlike the experience of only reading the play by Shakespeare, that seems to be cluttered with chaotic Old English language.

The individual performances from the superb cast of characters help the reader to grasp and understand what the character is feeling, thinking, and seeing. In turn, the actors are able to give some memorable and indeed unforgettable performances of their time. Thus, the editing of this production calls attention to these individual performances with a preponderance of closely framed one-shots and rapid cutting, the effects of which are to accentuate the faces of the actors and the slightest nuances of expression that flicker across them. For example, when Olivier washes the freshly killed rabbit in the stream, the audience can hear the water running and with the subsequent return to nature is utterly convincing, especially when Olivier eats a freshly-killed rabbit. Within the play, imagery plays a role and the reader must read deeper than the surface to understand just how much imagery is introduced to us in King Lear. Despite the fact that there is plenty of imagery created for the reader through the words written, the film sets more scenes and images to the reader than the book. A great example of this imagery in the film is when Olivier (Lear) is carrying Calder-Marshall (Cordelia) in his arms; you can see the agony and despondency on his face that makes you feel sympathy for him. Overall, unlike the play the film helps King Lear come to life with the different acting, costumes, set designs, and sound effects.

The costumes also play a significant role in the movie. For example, in the storm Edgar strips himself of the clothing that protects him and becomes exposed to the world as the man that he really is. In later scenes of the storm, Gloucester calls Edgar "the naked fellow"(4.1.39). Therefore, by seeing the film it is easier to understand the significant change in Edgar’s outfits and the way he dresses. We can see that Gloucester’s son is more like a servant -- shabby, soiled, filthy, and grubby. The book is unable to provide as much imagery as the movie can when it comes to the changes in Edgar’s dress. The film’s imagery also helps you to appreciate the level of madness that King Lear is at. As the movie makes everything look dull, dark, wet and tiring. We are still able to see the moods, hand gestures, and facial expressions that make Lear’s madness come to life. An additional example of this imagery plays out in the scene where King Lear is in the field wearing a flowers on his head and around his neck (4.6). While reading the book, the reader may be able to imagine what the scene might look like and what is happening to Lear, but the movie demonstrates how mad Lear has become through his actions and facial expressions.

Besides representing madness, the storm could also be based on King Lear's anger, while reading the play we discover that things are wrong and we know