LEAR by Edward Bond: Summary and Critical Analysis

LEAR (1971)

"It's dangerous to tell the truth, truth without power is always dangerous" (Pg.76).

Overview:

Lear is the most controversial and violent three-act play by the contemporary British Playwright Edward Bond. As the title itself suggests it is a political comment and rework of William Shakespeare's 'King Lear'. Bond features Lear as a neurotic dictator, builds a wall to protect his country from his enemies. Their daughters Bodice and Fontanalle rebel against him and marry his enemies. Subsequently, it causes a war. Lear becomes their victim,undergoes self revelation. He becomes blind and eventually prophetic. He preaches against the despotic ruler Cordelia. He also raises her voice against The Great Wall. That ultimately causes his death. 

Plot Summary:

Act - I   Scene 1

The play begins with an indistinct crash shout of a worker. Later, it reveals that he has died during the construction of  the great defensive wall for King Lear. The wall is having built in order to keep away from his fatal enemies Dukes of North and Cornwall.

"Lear: Who left that wood in the mud?"

This is how the king reacts to the dead body. When Lear sees the dead man, his primary concern is the resulting delay to the process of building. The Foreman explains the cause of death that an axe was falling on his head. In spite of having oppositions from his daughters, Lear executes the man who accidentally caused that worker's death, for avoiding the subsequent delay. Bodice and Fontanalle raise some blatant oppositions regarding the Lear's violence along with supporting Dukes of North and Cornwall. But, Lear declares that they are his sole enemies. he says that he killed their father therefore, the sons must hate him.

In that moment Bodice and Fontanalle express their daring decision to marry them. they believe their marriage will lead to peace. But, the king rejects it, he was not ready to bless his daughters. instead, he curses them by saying "I have no daughters".

          "Bodice: If the king will not act reasonably it's your legal duty to disobey them".

Lear leaves along with his advisor Warrington by cursing them fatally. They leave to meet their husbands after planning to attack Lear.

Scene 2

The war ceremony goes on including the marching of  military aids. Lear greets the regiment in the parade ground. They also plan how to tackle with the enemies. Warrington puts forward an advice that they could refuse this war, as they are old and also going to fight with Lear's own blood. But, Lear rejects this again harshly by proclaiming they are the outlaws and they could be raped or murdered. Later, Warrington informs him that each daughter has sent letters secretly, demanding Warrington to betray Lear, then the other daughter and gives an offer as a head of the army also let him share their bed too. This reveals the degenerated attitude of the daughters.

   "Lear : Warrington, if I am killed or fall into their hands you must take my place and   build the wall".

Scene 3

On the other side Bodice, Fontanalle, Duke of North and Cornwall plan the war strategies. Each of the daughters want to betray their husbands and even betray each other, finally marry Warrington to run the country for them. So, the one shall remain has three countries.

   

Scene 4

The daughters' armies have been victorious. Lear flees. But they couldn't work out their secret plans towards their husbands. Cornwall and North remain intact. Warrington is now in their cage whose tongue has been cut out as Fontanalle is afraid of revealing some truths from him.

                 "Bodice: (aside) I see my sister thinks like me. I must never trust her. "

Bodice pokes the needle into his ears, makes him deaf too.

                  " Fontanalle: He can see my face but he can't hear me laugh!

                   Bodice: Fancy like staring into a silent storm... "

Bodice and Fontanalle leave. A soldier starts to take Warrington out.

Scene 5

Lear and old Counsellor is in the wood. they are raged, tired, dirty, frightened and famished. That time Warrington tries to attack Lear with a knife. Appears Gravedigger's boy by carrying bread and water. He gives shelter to Lear at home.

Scene 6

  At the Boy’s house, where Lear identifies how the Boy lives. The Boy has a pig farm and his pregnant wife, Cordelia. When Lear goes out with the Boy, Warrington returns with a knife, and the Boy’s wife calls out, saying that the Wild Man has returned. While Lear sleeps, Warrington returns with a knife, attacks Lear, then leaves. The boy takes Lear into the house. 

Scene 7

A sergeant and three soldiers appear in search of Lear. Warrington’s body is discovered down from the well. The soldiers kill the Boy, rape his pregnant wife Cordelia, and kill the pigs. The Carpenter arrives and kills the soldiers. Lear is taken as prisoner.

 "Lear: O burn the house! You've murdered the husband, slaughtered the cattle, poisoned the well, raped the mother, killed the child- you must burn the house! You are soldiers - you must do your duty! My daughters expect it! O burn the house!  burn the house! burn the house!

Soldier: Shut up and move. "

Act II  scene 1

Action takes place in the court room, political trial is about to begin in the presence of Bodice, Fontanalle, North and Cornwall. Guard brings Lear. He becomes mentally disturbed. When asked about Bodice and Fontanelle, Lear denies that they are his daughters. He finds himself as a caged animal while stares down at the mirror. He is found mad and taken away. Bodice tells Fontanelle that there are dissidents in the kingdom and that there will be a civil war. Fontanelle replies that the rebels are led by Cordelia. 

Scene 2

 In the empty cell of Lear. The ghost of the gravedigger's boy appears. his skin and clothes are faded. There is a dry blood on them. The ghost fetches the ideal spirits of his daughters. Lear converses with the young souls of Bodice and Fontanalle. Perhaps, the author may be employing the technique of 'lucid dreaming' here.

Scene 2

A drastic transition takes place to Cordelia. She frames up an army along with carpenter to pay her retribution.

Scene 4    

"Bodice: They wouldn't break a grasshopper's leg for us. Why did you think i put up with my husband for so long?"

Having realized the real nature of their husbands Bodice and Fontanalle keep them as their captive in their cells. Still they make use of their army.

Scene 5

In a country road. Lear and four prisoners chained together by the neck and blindfolded, they are lead and guarded by three soldiers. The carpenter, Lewis, Pete and other rebel soldiers take over them by overpowering the army. Later, it reveals that Fontanalle was one among the prisoners.

Scene 6

Now, Lear is in another cell . It is darker than before. Lear, Fontanalle and other prisoners are in chain sitting on the ground. The thin white ghost of gravedigger's boy appears again.

 A soldier shoots Fontanalle from behind. She falls dead immediately.

"Lear: What are you doing?

Fourth Prisoner: A little autopsy. Not a big one. We know what she died of. But I handle this routine work methodically. Otherwise, they think you can't be trusted with bigger things. My new papers will open up many new opportunities for me

Lear : Who was she?

Fourth Prisoner: your daughter.

Lear: Did i have a daughter?

Fourth Prisoner: yes, it's on her chart, that's her stomach and the liver underneath. I am just making a few incisions to satisfy the authorities."

  This is one of the most brutal scenes, the autopsy of Fontanalle by showing every inner body parts in front of the audience. Lear is awed by the inner beauty of her body.

Soldiers bring Bodice. She becomes dirt and disheveled. Carpenter declares that Bodice has sentenced to death. Soldiers beat and abuse her. She gives a spasm and dies.

Fourth Prisoner brings a device to remove the eyes of Lear.

"Lear: Aaahhh!The sun! it hurts my eyes!

The roaring in my head. I see blood (spits). blood in my mouth. Undo my hand and let me kill myself

Take me away. Take me somewhere to die"

Lear stumbles out with the ghost.

Scene7

In an open field, near the wall. Lear meets a family including a farmer,his wife and son (he is going to be a soldier,shoots Lear in the last scene). Lear requests a shelter to them.

Act III Scene 1

In the gravedigger's boy's house, more dilapidated but obviously lived in. Lear is now with Thomas, his wife Susan and John. They care for Lear in his blindness.  

Scene 2

Months later, many strangers gather to listen to Lear, he has turned into prophetic and philosophic. he captures the consciousness of the crowd by telling them allegorical stories.

"Thomas: Hundreds of people come to hear you now. The government can't let this go on, and they could crush us like that! We need support."

 Cordelia is in power now.She issues an order to restrict the public engagement of Lear.

"Councillor: Out of respect for your age and sufferings Cordelia has tolerated your activities, but now they must stop. In future you will not speak in public or involve yourself in any public affairs. your visitors will be vetted by the area military authorities. All these people must go. The government will appoint a man and woman to look after you. You will live in a decent quietness, as a man of your years should". 

Scene 3

Cordelia along with carpenter comes and meets Lear. A strong verbal dispute goes on in between them regarding the building of the wall. Cordelia also speaks of how the soldiers killed her husband and raped her and the way in which her new government is initiating a better way of life. Cordelia demands Lear to stop working against her. Lear urges Cordelia  that she must pull the wall down and criticizes her regime by saying that "your Law always does more harm than crime, and your morality is a from of violence."

Scene 4

Near the wall, a group of workers come on and stare at Lear. He leaves the shovel stuck in the earth. A junior officer comes in, it is the farmer's son. He aims his pistol. Lear digs the shovel into the earth. The officer fires, Lear is killed instantly. He falls down the wall pathetically. 
   

Analysis:

Edward Bond's Lear can be considered as a fine example for Epic Theatre, as he makes the drama more politically effective rather than just experiencing aesthetically. Shakespeare tried to capture the emotional involvement of the audience, but Bond tries to address the social issues and creates  political awareness. His plays are not meant for entertainment but for social transformation. He described himself as a revolutionary socialist. He was totally against the notion of Absurd Theatre. According to Bond one can not find real life in Absurd Thetre,it is often exaggerated,pessimistic and cynical. 

When it comes to the tradition of Epic Theatre, it was founded by the German theatre director Erwin Piscator and popularised by the German dramatist Bertolt Brecht. This type of drama was devoted to the expression of political ideas and ideals and a reaction against contemporary forms of theatre such as the well made play with its neat and manipulative plot and melodrama with its extreme and insincere emotions. It also reacted against surrealism. One of the chief aims of Epic Theatre is to make sure that the audience is always conscious of the fact that they are watching a play, so that they could reflect on the action critically. Brecht developed what he called the 'alienation effect', which created a sense of detachment in the audience from the action of the play. Unlike traditional drama, epic theatre does not wish its audience to empathize with the characters. In order to achieve this, Brecht used tactics such as flooding the entire theatre with bright lights and making the actors move the sets in full view of the audience.

Bond was very much influenced by Angry young man movement. The atrocities of world war framed his revolutionary radical reformist bent of mind. He was exposed to the violence of world war and witnessed the relentless dangers and despairs. So, the violence became inherent in his writings. it shaped his mind and attitude thus  he brought out the dynamics of violence extremely in front of audience. As he puts in his preface "I write about violence as naturally as Jane Austen wrote about manners". So, violence is inevitable in the contemporary society. Excessive use of violence made the play a bit controversial. Even the play begins and ends with blood shed, in between there are numerous scenes of brutality. All the rulers are obsessed with violence. It becomes natural once he/she is ascended in to power. Even Cordelia, she represents the oppressed, later turns to oppressor and ruthless. Rulers may change but violence remains intact.

Disintegration of modern family is conspicuous here. There is not even a single moment which shows the healthy relation between father and daughters. Lear himself shaped their personalities as the proverb echoes 'as you sow, so you reap'. They inherited all of his cruelty, greed and obsession with power.

When we talk about symbolism, the great wall takes its first preference. Lear tries to build a wall as he justifies it protects his subject from his enemies. As far as the subjects are concerned it creates a kind of claustrophobic ambiance and also restricts their freedom. Lear was preoccupied with the wall right from the beginning itself, paradoxically his further life remains in the four walls of prison. finally dies miserably beside the wall.

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