Shakespeare "King Lear"- (1997 TV-Ian Holm), Act 4+5 bits

Act 4, scene 7, line 25-87 - Cordelia with Lear as he awakes (Arden edition)
Act 5, scene 2, Edgar's "Away, old man, give me thy hand, away!"
Act 5, scene 3, "No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison"


Ian Holm ... Lear
Victoria Hamilton ... Cordelia
David Burke ... Kent
Paul Rhys ... Edgar
Timothy West ... Gloucester


Holm has been acting professionally since joining the Royal Shakespeare Company as a spear-carrier in 1954. He was a young 66 when he filmed this "Lear".



A. C. Bradley, Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth:


"...already recognized his injustice towards Cordelia, is secretly blaming himself, and is endeavouring to do better, the disposition from which his first error sprang is still unchanged. And it is precisely the disposition to give rise, in evil surroundings, to calamities dreadful but at the same time tragic, because due in some measure to the person who endures them.

The perception of this connection, if it is not lost as the play advances, does not at all diminish our pity for Lear, but it makes it impossible for us permanently to regard the world displayed in this tragedy as subject to a mere arbitrary or malicious power. It makes us feel that this world is so far at least a rational and a moral order, that there holds in it the law, not of proportionate requital, but of strict connection between act and consequence. It is, so far, the world of all Shakespeare's tragedies. But there is another aspect of Lear's story, the influence of which modifies, in a way quite different and more peculiar to this tragedy, the impressions called pessimistic and even this impression of law.

There is nothing more noble and beautiful in literature than Shakespeare's exposition of the effect of suffering in reviving the greatness and eliciting the sweetness of Lear's nature. The occasional recurrence, during his madness, of autocratic impatience or of desire for revenge serves only to heighten this effect, and the moments when his insanity becomes merely infinitely piteous do not weaken it.

The old King who in pleading with his daughters feels so intensely his own humiliation and their horrible ingratitude, and who yet, at fourscore and upward, constrains himself to practise a self-control and patience so many years disused; who out of old affection for his Fool, and in repentance for his injustice to the Fool's beloved mistress, tolerates incessant and cutting reminders of his own folly and wrong; in whom the rage of the storm awakes a power and a poetic grandeur surpassing even that of Othello's anguish..."

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[saintswhiz]

And I am an American teenager studying this and I LOVE it! This is my favorite Shakespearean play, I think. His Scottish play and Hamlet are good, too. My classmates like it as well, so it is not a waste of time! We certainly are able to comprehend its importance as well as anyone, so nationality is of no consequence! Anyway, it would be a great disservice to him to allow an entire country to remain ignorant of his genius.

[taytay584]

You're seriously mistaken, my friend. I am an American college student who has studied Shakespeare in every highschool and college English class I've ever had, and to this day I am still studying Shakespeare. In fact, I'm watching this for a 400 level class. If this is the way you feel about youth, maybe its best you shouldn't be teaching them. I sure wouldn't want you teaching my children you negative, condescending, narrow minded ass.

[14022222]

I love the part where Lear snarls. XD

[seppomuppit]

@taytay584 who would rate such a terribad comment?

[taytay584]

@seppomuppit Take a look at the tag, that was from two years ago...my comment was just highest rated...dork.

[seppomuppit]

@taytay584 who the hell are you talking to dork?

[Xenonsoundboost]

Cordelia looks like Micheal Jackson ! xD

[BrookHornblower]

The Michaek Horden BBC version is worth watching as well. Absolutely amazing...

[saintswhiz]

@TheSnowballEarth XD don't worry, I am not superstitious; it's just fun to play along sometimes ;)

[TheSnowballEarth]

@saintswhiz Scottish play? Oh right- MACBETH

[angelxscenekid]

lol this guy thats accusin everyone said i was probably american too.

Im actualy australian and just because i think shakespeare is irrelevant doesnt mean im immature. Id love to see you run your classes if you insult kids for stating their opinions mate.

P.S i am pretty immature in personality but not when it comes to interlectual topics.

[dawngoth20]

cool