Ian McKellen: Understanding King Lear, the Character

Summary

In this reflective analysis of *King Lear*, the speaker explores the themes of power, aging, faith, and personal growth. Lear's initial belief in divine kingship is challenged as he loses power and his faith in the gods, ultimately discovering his humanity. The speaker draws personal connections to the play, citing experiences with aging family members and offering a speculative backstory for Lear. Themes of familial relationships, particularly with his daughters, are highlighted, along with Lear's tragic flaws and his gradual emotional reconciliation. This thoughtful examination invites a deeper understanding of Lear's complex character arc.

Takeaways

• 😀 Lear starts the play as a powerful king with a strong belief in his divine right to rule, which he equates with a connection to the gods.
• 😀 The crux of Lear's emotional and psychological journey involves the loss of his faith in the gods, leading him to discover his humanity.
• 😀 As Lear ages and experiences physical decline, his ability to maintain control over his kingdom and his emotions diminishes.
• 😀 The relationship between Lear and his daughters is central to the plot, with Lear's actions, particularly his bullying behavior, contributing to the breakdown of these relationships.
• 😀 Lear’s relationship with his youngest daughter, Cordelia, is rooted in his desire for her love and loyalty, which he struggles to receive until it’s too late.
• 😀 Lear's military background and warrior mentality shape his character, giving him strength, certainty, and moral values, but these traits are undermined by his old age and emotional turmoil.
• 😀 Kent, Lear’s loyal servant, represents moral clarity and military discipline, which Lear respects and values, even when Kent is forced to return in disguise.
• 😀 The loss of his divine belief causes Lear to re-evaluate his relationships, particularly with his family, realizing that personal connections are more important than his divine right to rule.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on personal experiences with aging, drawing a parallel between Lear’s decline and the speaker’s observations of a stepmother’s mental and physical deterioration.
• 😀 Lear’s backstory, including multiple marriages and the birth of his daughters, is imagined by the speaker as a way to understand his deep connection to Cordelia and his anger at her perceived betrayal.
• 😀 The play is not a retrospective of Lear’s life; rather, it presents a snapshot of his current emotional and physical state, with the audience learning about his character primarily through his actions and relationships in the present.

Q & A

What is the central theme of King Lear's character progression as discussed in the transcript?

The central theme is Lear's journey from a powerful, god-like king to a man who loses his faith and discovers his own humanity. His progression highlights the loss of divine right to rule and the shift from external power to personal relationships and self-awareness.

How does the loss of faith affect King Lear's character by the end of the play?

By the end of the play, Lear loses his faith in the gods and his divine right to rule. This loss marks a pivotal moment in his character arc, where he moves from believing in divine authority to understanding his own humanity and the importance of personal connections.

What personal experience does the speaker draw upon to describe Lear's aging process?

The speaker relates to Lear's physical and mental decline by referencing the decline of their stepmother, who passed away at 100. This personal experience helps contextualize the portrayal of Lear’s aging, both physically and emotionally.

How do King Lear's relationships with his daughters reflect his character traits?

Lear’s authoritarian and bullying behavior towards his daughters is mirrored in the cruel personalities of Goneril and Regan. Cordelia, in contrast, represents a more genuine form of love, which Lear deeply desires but struggles to receive.

What role does Lear's military background play in shaping his character?

Lear’s military background is integral to his identity as a ruler. The speaker imagines him as a warrior, and his continued references to his proficiency in battle reflect a strong, commanding presence, which contrasts with his physical and emotional decline later in the play.

What is the significance of the backstory imagined for King Lear by the speaker?

The speaker imagines that Lear had two wives, which may explain the different temperaments of his daughters. This speculative backstory helps to flesh out Lear's character, offering insights into his relationships and motivations, even though it is not explicitly mentioned in the play.

What is the speaker’s view on the tragic nature of King Lear?

The speaker suggests that King Lear is not a traditional tragedy in the sense of a simple downfall. While Lear dies at the end, his emotional journey leads to self-discovery and reconciliation, particularly with his understanding of life and relationships, which complicates the conventional interpretation of tragedy.

How does the loss of Lear's physical power contribute to the play’s themes?

Lear's increasing physical decline symbolizes his loss of control and authority. As his body weakens, his mental and emotional strength also deteriorates, which reflects broader themes of aging, mortality, and the limitations of human power.

What does the speaker mean when they say the story of King Lear is ‘flung right into the middle of it’?

The speaker suggests that King Lear’s story begins in the midst of his reign, without extensive background or retrospective exposition. The audience is thrust directly into the present moment of the play, where the events and character interactions unfold in real-time rather than through historical context.

What is the significance of Lear’s relationship with Kent in the play?

Kent represents Lear's most loyal and morally steadfast supporter. Lear recognizes Kent’s values, especially his military and moral integrity, which contrasts with the treachery of Lear's other daughters. Kent’s loyalty plays a key role in highlighting Lear’s personal growth and the value of honest, human relationships.