A SCENE FROM SHAKESPEARE’S KING LEAR
The English poet and
playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) wrote the tragic play King Lear
between 1605-1606. It was first performed on 26th December 1606. King Lear is
the hero of the play and he is introduced as”a very foolish, fond, old man,
fourscore and upward,” who is headstrong and “full of changes,” yet “every inch
a king,” “more sinned against than sinning.”
As
King of Britain, Lear decides to retire and divides his kingdom among his three
daughters, in fact two, Goneril and Regan who false-heatedly profess their utmost
love and loyalty to him. The third Cordelia, his youngest daughter, the
“unpriz’d precious maid,” who lacked “that glib and oily art to speak.” Got
nothing, Her voice was ever soft, gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.”
As
the play proceeds, Lear is dispossessed of all his power and privileges, so
much so that he becomes a homeless old man like a present day Indian migrant. On
a stormy day he no other alternative than to take shelter in a hovel along with
his Fool (a pretty knave, devoted to Lear). It is here he realizes the misery
of homeless poor people.
I
was reminded of this scene when I watched on television screens thousands of
hungry migrants walking with heavy feet towards their native villages in far
off states.
The
stormy scene referred to above runs as follows:
Kent. (The Earl of Kent, a “noble and
true- hearted courtier, loyal to Lear). Good my lord, enter here.
Lear. Prithee go in thyself, seek
thine own ease; this tempest will not give me leave to ponder on things would
hurt me more. But I’ll go in. (To the Fool) In, boy, go first. You houseless
poverty---- Nay get thee in: I’ll pray, and then I’ll, sleep--- (Fool goes in).
Poor naked wretches, whereso’er you are,
That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,
How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides,
Your looped and windowed raggedness, defend you
From seasons such as thee? O, I have ta’en
Too little care of this! Take physic, pomp;
Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel,
That thou mayst shake the superflux to them
And show the heavens more just.”
These are the new words
of a feudal King who has become homeless and has learnt the true meanings of
the proverb: “Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches. “
21st May 2020 G.R.KANWAL
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