Editing King Lear, Buffet Style
William Shakespeare’s King Lear has been modified and pondered perhaps more than the other texts created by this theatrical virtuoso. One exchange in the first act of this play concerning the distribution of hereditarily linked lands and the love of daughters has been edited quite a bit. Lines 45 through 50 of Act I, scene 1 as published in the Folio (1623) play an important role in establishing the trend of misunderstanding loyalties and confused relationships between the role of the father and that of the king that eventually lead to the ensuing civil war.
The opening scene of this tragedy of the ineptness of a king and the need for unity plays an important role in setting up the reasons for the royal family’s downfall. This becomes most apparent as Lear says:
while we
Unburthen'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,
And you our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters ' several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. (I.1.45-50)
Almost every line of this segment carries a certain amount of irony and meaning for the scene as well as the rest of the play. To begin, King Lear suggests that in giving up his land and power as king allows him to “unburthen’d crawl toward death” (I.1.46). The diction choice of “unburthen’d” makes the language even more loaded than on the surface. At first glance, this editorial choice provides reverse foreshadowing, referring to the future ‘burdened-ness’ of King Lear after he loses faith in all of his family. After Goneril and Regan reveal their true natures, the burden of his state brings the British monarch to insanity. But at the same time, another definition of the word “unburthen’d” provides another angle on the passage. The OED provides an alternate translation of the word, making it mean “to relieve (a person, the mind, etc.) by the removal or disclosure of something”. In addition to the first idea suggested by this word, this definition hints at the revelation, both of his daughters’ personalities, and of King Lear’s. When one reads this into the editorial change, the statement depicts how King Lear’s need for validation and power leads to ill in the end. Indeed, it hints at the future revelation of his daughters’ true loyalties. King Lear’s inability to give up his power is accented by contrast as he declares his “constant will” to give up his power (I.1.48). This statement becomes hypocritical in revelation of his later actions in attempt to retain control of his daughters. His will does not remain constant, as he claims it has been, and becomes a frustration to him in the tragedy to follow. Even at the end of his speech here, he cannot foresee his subjects’ future actions as he claims that the division of his kingdom brings peace (I.1.49-50). This idea runs directly contrary to the logic of most kings. Historically, a king attempts to bring all surrounding territories under one person’s control since it provides more security. But here, Lear asserts that dividing up his lands creates more peace. In doing this, he demonstrates that he no longer can make appropriate executive decisions. Without the presence of this, or the other lines, the reader does not gain sufficient insight into the follying king’s character.
In short, the inclusion of this passage in this scene is necessary for the accentuation of problems in characterization that play into the overall meaning of the play.