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Did Shakespeare really set out to make King Lear a tragedy? Really? What about the Fool? And the nonsense songs? And the fact that things keep going from bad to worse to worst? Get inside the Bard’s head in this Recap.

Video Transcription:

This is it! The Big Day! Tonight, my newest play will open in the court of King James.

“The Comedy of King Lear!”

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It’s past midday. Where is that scribe with my manuscript?

This really is my best work yet. There’s betrayal. There’s love! There are sword fights and disguises galore and invading armies and a Fool! Oh, I love the Fool.

And nonsense songs! Did I mention the nonsense songs! I love it when my characters go mad because then I get to write nonsense songs!

“Sleepest or wakest, thou jolly shepherd?
Thy sheep be in the corn!”

They’ll love that one. I haven’t written such good nonsense songs since I drowned Ophelia in 1601.

Ohhhh, and won’t the audience squeal when I dispatch all the characters with brains at the end of Act 1, scene 1. Then it’s just all bad guys all the time. And old men stumbling in the heath. And the squelching of freshly-plucked eyes!

“Out vile jelly!”

The boys will cheer.

Where is that scribe?

It’s time! It’s time for the world to know the glory and delight and hilarity that is …

The TRAGEDY of King Lear???!!!