Докса (Jun 2017)
THE PROBLEMS OF IDENTITY IN SHAKESPEARE’S «KING LEAR»
Abstract
The problems of identity in Shakespeare’s plays has many aspects. One of them is relayed to the problem of persecution and exile (including self-exile) that force characters to adopt new identity. Exile itself has different modification, most notable of which are 1) rejection of existing social connections and 2) abandoning human society and trying to become a part of Nature. Each of them has different variants that can be combined, making each case unique. To escape persecution, a character (Shakespearean or otherwise) can adopt one of the following strategies: 1) “melting into” the landscape; 2) play-acting; 3) creating a new personality with “neutral” characteristics, and 4) creating a new personality strikingly different from the real character. The last kind is the author’s favorite. Usually it is found in comedies, when a girl pretends to be a youth, to gain more freedom. But in “King Lear’ we see quite different variants, especially in the case of Edgar, who creates and for some time maintains a quite distinct personality of Poor Tom. During some scenes we see two personalities simultaneously, which is very difficult for an actor and director. But this difficulty must not be reduces, because this tension between two identities is one of the greatest points of the whole tragedy, that deserves a separate study.
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