King Lear: theatrical conventions of the period

An Understanding of the Elizabethan Theatre

Open air theatre: “King Lear” was written at a time when plays were performed in the open-air such as the Globe, and the setting and weather effects had to be created through the dialogue.
Influence of the Monarch: Publicly presented dramas of the time were heavily influenced by the reigning monarch, Elizabeth I, and hence certain themes and style elements are reflective of the Era.

The Tragedy: The “tragedy” was a popular form of drama. “King Lear” satisfies Aristotle’s definition of tragedy - a noble hero who falls from grace due to a tragic flaw.
Five Act Structure: Plays were typically divided into five acts. This set structure helped to heighten the dramatic impact of the events.

Male only cast: Women were not allowed to work in the theatre, therefore all female roles, including those of Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia, would have been played by young boys.
Use of costume: Costumes were often elaborate, used as a signifier of character’s status. For instance, Lear would have begun the play in kingly attire reflecting his initial power.
Audience engagement: The direct address to the audience, mainly in soliloquies, was a popular convention highlighting inner thoughts.

Blank Verse: Most of Shakespeare’s works, including “King Lear”, are written in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter), representing the speech of nobility.
Prose: Used to convey ordinary or comic speech. In “King Lear”, characters lower in status like the Fool and Kent often speak in prose.

Dramatic irony: Shakespeare utilises this by allowing the audience to know more than the characters, creating anticipation.
Foreshadowing: “King Lear” uses this device to hint at future events, such as in Gloucester’s initial inability to discern Edmund’s deceit foreshadowing his unfortunate fate.
Exit pursued by a bear: Stage directions were simple and rare, e.g., “Exit, with a flourish of trumpets.” Most actions had to be relayed through dialogue.