Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

I have only read a few of Shakespear's plays, so I am very interested in reading this one, as well as a few others.

I read King Lear last week and I enjoyed it. Has anyone else read it yet?

I just finished it yesterday. It was interesting and all in all I enjoyed, though I have to admit I do not consider among some of my personal favorites of Shakespeare's. I just did not really feel very strongly for any of the characters. though I did feel sympathetic towards King Lear. Oswald was perhaps the most interesting/entertaining of the characters.

I forgot what a challenge it is to read Shakespeare since it is made to be spoken/acted, not read like a novel. What did you guys think of the three daughters?

Great line:
"Shut up your doors, my lord, tis a wild night." (end of act 2)
Haha! Indeed it is! I may just have to use that some time! :-)

With all the scheming, there is a great, dark line at the end of Act 3, Scene 3:
"The younger rises when the old doth fall.". It sounds harmless enough, unless you know what Edmund is doing.....
What are some of your favorite lines?

I have to agree that it's not my favorite Shakespeare either. One of my favorite lines is "Now, gods, stand up for bastards!" (Edmund, Scene II)

I saw a live performance last night
fave quote:
"Plate sin with gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;
Arm it in rags, a pygmy's straw does pierce it."

There are a lot of great lines but I particularly like the patterning of particular words or ideas.

Like Reagan's (or Goneril's, who can tell the difference) opening speech is one of my favourite lines in English, and although insincere, is still a beautiful expression of love: I love you more than words can wield the matter, dearer than eyesight... And it sets up all those references to eyes, like the fool's predictive: All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men... When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again. I
would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it. References which lead inexorably towards that 'vile jelly', and ultimately the madman leading the blind.

More than most of his plays, in Lear that patterning feels almost more important than plot: eyes/blindness, the stars, madness/foolishness and familial relations like legitimacy (the bastard Edmund, the disinherited Edgar, the disowned Cordelia), fertility ('dry up her organs of increase'), sons/daughters are all mirrored in plot and language and contrasted with each other.

Each time they seem to have picked up some new association or significance along the way. In the best work in English stakes which Hamlet and Lear seem to have had going on for the last hundred fifty years or so, I am deffo Team Lear and largely because all these associations add up to this wonder-ful, almost mystical, Thing that seems to be going on beneath the surface.

I'm two acts into this and really enjoying it. On the surface it seems almost simplistic. Lear quickly disinherits Cordelia, with scant reason, which seems a rash start. Meanwhile Gloucester has been so easily persuaded by his bastard Edmund, that his other son Edgar is the bad guy, which felt reminiscent of how easily Othello was persuaded by Iago about Desdemona.

Jon, I also enjoyed the opening lines between Lear, Gonerill, Regan and Cordelia. I thought they were powerfully done, with so little saying so much.

CORDELIA
I love your Majesty
According to my bond; nor more nor less.
KING LEAR
How, how, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,
Lest it may mar your fortunes.
CORDELIA
Good my lord,
You have begot me, bred me, loved me.
I return those duties back as are right fit:
Obey you, love you, and most honor you.
Why have my sisters husbands if they say
They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,
That lord whose hand must take my plight shall
carry
Half my love with him, half my care and duty.
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all. (1.1.105-115)

I'm in two minds about Lear at the moment. There are sections when he arrives at Gonerill and then Regan's homes where he seems rude and cantankerous, lashing out when he doesn't get his own way. Even though his eldest daughters have been devious in how they sucked up to him to get their inheritance, I can see why they'd be feeling exasperated with him. The more I read, the more I'm reminded of grown up children putting their elderly parents into a care home, casting them off as they're no longer willing to put up with their behaviour, with the result being the parent loses their home, possessions, independence and ultimately their sanity.

I think I have a lot more yet to come, so I'll keep reading and post my thoughts again when I'm finished.

I finished today and enjoyed it to the end.

Is anyone else planning on reading it? I notice it keeps coming up in polls and gets suggested for buddy reads, but it never quite seems to happen. If you're considering it, I'd say just pick it up. It's one of his more readable plays and works well on paper. I'd be interested to hear what everyone else thinks of it.

Now I'd like to find a performance to watch. I have no plans for visiting the theatre just yet, so if anyone has any film versions they'd recommend, I'd be grateful :)

Pink wrote: "I finished today and enjoyed it to the end.

Is anyone else planning on reading it? I notice it keeps coming up in polls and gets suggested for buddy reads, but it never quite seems to happen. If ..."

I keep nominating it in the polls Pink! It comes close but alas, never wins! That said, yes, I do plan on reading it sooner than later I hope! Glad to see that you enjoyed it! :)

Bought this yesterday. I did not have this particular play. Hoping to read soon :)

Loretta that's good to hear you're planning on reading git at some point. I know we were supposed to buddy read this in December, then January, but I think everyone just got too busy and it kept getting pushed back. I'm glad I finally picked it up and look forward to hearing your thoughts when you get around to it :)

Piyangie, I hope you enjoy it too! It's very good and definitely worth reading :)

I read it once back in High School but have forgotten everything beyond it being similar to/based on the folk tale "Like Meat Loves Salt."

I'd love to re-read it, but I keep waiting, hoping a buddy read materializes.

It's my favorite Shakespearean play and one I would read again in a heartbeat if it comes up for a group read.

Remember, you can always call someone an "unnecessary letter" if you are ever at a loss for words and need to come up with a put-down that hasn't been heard a thousand times before.

;>D

Pink wrote: "I finished today and enjoyed it to the end.

Is anyone else planning on reading it? I notice it keeps coming up in polls and gets suggested for buddy reads, but it never quite seems to happen. If ..."

I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it!