Chapter 12 Summary and Analysis

"The Triumph of the Everyday" The author begins this chapter, which focuses on the final days of Shakespeare's life and career, with an examination of King Lear, one of the playwright's greater tragedies. First, the author documents the similarities between the situation at the beginning of the play, in which the aged, almost demented king demands to know which of his three daughters loves him best, and a sensational court case in which two greedy daughters attempt to get their wealthy father declared insane in order to inherit his property. He also finds parallels in earlier stage versions of the story, which were in fact based upon a legendary character, the pre-Christian British King Leir. Finally, the author contrasts the attitudes in both the legal case and the legend with those of the time, in which elders were respected and honored...