King Lear: style

Style Overview

King Lear is written in verses and prose, both of which Shakespeare uses to distinguish between the upper and lower characters of society, as well as reflecting the character’s sanity or madness.
The verse, especially in iambic pentameter, is often used by upper-class characters and during very formal situations, hence representing order and sanity.
The prose style, conversely, is often associated with the lower-class characters, madness, or disorder, which is evident in Lear’s descent into madness.

Unusual for his time, Shakespeare presents dual plots, with the main Lear plot and the Gloucester subplot, that mirror and reflect themes and actions of each other.
Soliloquies – e.g., Edmund’s “Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land” - offer a window into a character’s innermost thoughts and motives, thus enhancing audience understanding.
Foolish wisdom is a significant stylistic aspect of the play, most evidently exhibited through the character of Lear’s Fool, who often speaks in riddles and proverbs, yet provides profound and true insight.

Rich imagery, such as animal and nature metaphors, is recurrent throughout the text; for instance, Lear’s ‘pelican daughters,’ reflects the ungrateful nature of Regan and Goneril.
Symbolism is a crucial part of King Lear’s style, with the storm symbolising the chaos in the kingdom and Lear’s blindness mirroring Gloucester’s literal blindness.
Irony, particularly dramatic irony, is utilised extensively within the play. For example, Lear’s initial failure to recognise the true nature of his daughters, despite it being clear to the audience.

Metatheatre is evident in occasional asides which directly involve the audience, increasing the overall depth and emotional impact of the play.
King Lear utilises disguise, a common form of metatheatre – characters pretending to be someone or something they are not. Edgar’s transformation into Poor Tom is an effective example.
The ‘Play within a Play’ structure, a popular metatheatrical device, is also apparent, seen in the mock trial scene in Act 3, Scene 6 where madness and sanity collide forcefully.

The play is careful and strategic with its use of stage space, using elements like exits and entrances effectively to intensify the dramatic impact. For example, Lear’s entrance with Cordelia’s dead body is one of the most notable and tragic stage images.
Stage props and accessories such as the storm, letters, or the map of kingdom are vital to the play’s action and symbolism.

Extensive use of simile and metaphor grants depth and complexity to character’s emotions, themes and narratives.
Various rhetorical devices like repetition, anaphora, and antithesis are used to convey persuasive arguments or heighten the emotional intensity of a scene. For example, repetition of ‘Nothing’ signifies the theme of emptiness or lack of meaning.

Despite its tragic and fantastical elements, King Lear presents a high degree of realism. This is seen in its exploration of human emotions and experiences, depiction of societal hierarchy, and representation of mental disorders like Lear’s madness.