Setting: A Critical Component in Shakespeare's King Lear

Chezka Bianca P. Torres

Setting is a critical component in the development of a story. It assists in the unfolding of the plot and provides the backdrop and mood of the action. It anchors a story to its complications which lead to a rising action and eventually, to a a turning point or climax. Moreover, the setting does not only develop the story but also shapes the characters values through its social milieu. Therefore, it is an essential part of a story's mood and emotional impact. Shakespeare authored ing !ear around "#$% and like his other plays, the setting of ing !ear is far removed from Shakespeare's time. &lthough it is set in the ' th (entury ).(., the events in the story still evoke vivid associations to the events that took place in the period in which he lived. Shakespeare's career as a poet and playwright flourished during the *enaissance, a transition period between the Middle &ges and the modern era, during which there was a cultural and intellectual rebirth in +uropean civili,ation. It is safe to say that Shakespeare's ing !ear is influenced by the particular events of this period and demonstrates certain characteristics of the said era. &mong the features of the *enaissance relevant to the play is the extremely hierarchical society of the +li,abethan +ngland. -uring this time, it is expected and demanded from an individual to pay respect and show deference not only to the wealthy and powerful but also to the parents and the elderly . a characteristic which is also manifested at the beginning of the play when ing !ear asked his daughters to profess their love for him. /Tell me, my daughters 0since now we will divest us both of rule, interest of territory, cares of state of state1, 2hich of you shall we say doth love us most, That we our lagest bounty may extend 2here nature doth with merit challenge.../ . "." %$.%%, ing !ear This illustrates how the setting of the story, influenced by a semblance to the real world, assists in the shaping of the plot and propels the events to the climax3 thus, developing it. Moreover, the behavior of the characters in the play mirror the expected 4ualities in the +li,abethan 5eriod. 2ith a careful portrayal of setting through interaction with characters and plot, the backdrop and mood of the action is initiated. &nother possible occurrence during the *enaissance 5eriod that may have influenced the story ing !ear is the war between 6rance and +ngland, which is also known as the 7undred 8ears' 2ar. 9enerally, the conflict between the two waged for control over the 6rench throne. It can be noted that perhaps this occurrence may have inspired Shakespeare to mirror a partly similar conflict in the story of ing !ear.

In Shakespeare's play, (ordelia led the 6rench &rmy to an invasion in an effort to save his 6ather. "Great France My mourning, and importuned tears hath pitied. No blown ambition doth our arms incite, But love, dear love, and our aged father's right. oon may ! hear and see him"" # :.: ;%.;<, ing !ear (ordelia's husband, the ing of 6rance, took pity on her grief and allowed the invasion in an effort to help restore !ear to the throne. This manifests (ordelia's great love and devotion for his father and her husband's good nature. The association of the war between 6rance and +ngland to the play's setting did not only affect the movement of the story but also influenced the shaping of the characters values and strengthened the emotional impact of the story. To encapsulate everything, it is important to remember that with the aid of the setting, the story is made more familiar and relevant to its audience and provides an even greater pervasive feeling. It is an essential element that propels the series of events to its turning point and thus putting the story in motion and developing it.