King Lear 'After' Auschwitz: Shakespeare, Appropriation and Theatres of Catastrophe in Post-War British Drama

The book analyses appropriations of King Lear in post-war British drama, developing new perspectives on Shakespeare's legacy and the Holocaust's impact on post-war drama and culture. It features case studies on Edward Bond, David Rudkin, Howard Barker, Sarah Kane, Forced Entertainment, and Dennis Kelly, situating appropriations in a wider literary, theatrical, and philosophical discourse.

Format: Hardback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 13 November 2020
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

King Lear has been a rich source of inspiration for post-war British drama, with playwrights drawing on the play's themes, characters, and imagery to address contemporary issues and explore new artistic possibilities. This book offers the first dedicated study on appropriations of King Lear in British playwriting of the post-war period, providing valuable new perspectives on the legacy of Shakespeare in post-war drama and culture.

The book features original case studies on Edward Bond, David Rudkin, Howard Barker, Sarah Kane, Forced Entertainment, and Dennis Kelly, each of whom has made significant contributions to the appropriation of King Lear in their work. These case studies explore the ways in which Lear's story and characters have been reinterpreted and reimagined in post-war British drama, highlighting the diverse ways in which the play has been appropriated.

The book situates appropriations of King Lear in a wider literary, theatrical, and philosophical discourse around the play and the Holocaust. It brings Shakespeare and post-war British drama into conversation with Continental philosophy and theory, exploring the ways in which the play has been used to address the legacies of the Holocaust and to explore the nature of tragedy and freedom in the post-war world.

Since the events of the Holocaust, playwrights have increasingly appropriated King Lear to respond to the catastrophes of modern times. The book explores a range of theatres of catastrophe in post-war British drama and the role that Lear has played in new forms of post-Holocaust tragedy and tragic freedom. Plays are situated in a wider critical and cultural discourse around Shakespeare and the Holocaust and the post-Auschwitz philosophical aesthetics of Theodor Adorno, whose influence on post-war playwriting remains profound.

One of the key themes of the book is the way in which Lear's story and characters have been used to explore the nature of power and authority. In Edward Bond's play Lear's Shadow, for example, the playwright uses Lear's story to explore the nature of power and authority in a post-war society. Bond's Lear is a powerful and charismatic figure who is ultimately brought down by his own hubris and arrogance.

David Rudkin's play King Lear is a more complex and nuanced exploration of the nature of power and authority. Rudkin's Lear is a vulnerable and fragile figure who is manipulated by his daughters and by the forces of evil. Rudkin's play explores the ways in which power and authority can be used to oppress and control others, and the ways in which individuals can resist and challenge these forces.

Howard Barker's play King Lear is a dark and violent exploration of the nature of power and authority. Barker's Lear is a tyrannical and abusive figure who is ultimately brought down by his own madness and violence. Barker's play explores the ways in which power and authority can be used to justify and perpetuate violence, and the ways in which individuals can resist and challenge these forces.

Sarah Kane's play King Lear is a deeply personal and introspective exploration of the nature of power and authority. Kane's Lear is a vulnerable and fragile figure who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her father and the destruction of her kingdom. Kane's play explores the ways in which power and authority can be used to control and manipulate individuals, and the ways in which individuals can resist and challenge these forces.

Forced Entertainment's play King Lear is a playful and satirical exploration of the nature of power and authority. Forced Entertainment's Lear is a clownish and ridiculous figure who is manipulated by his daughters and by the forces of evil. Forced Entertainment's play explores the ways in which power and authority can be used to entertain and distract individuals, and the ways in which individuals can resist and challenge these forces.

Dennis Kelly's play King Lear is a dark and disturbing exploration of the nature of power and authority. Kelly's Lear is a powerful and charismatic figure who is ultimately brought down by his own hubris and arrogance. Kelly's play explores the ways in which power and authority can be used to justify and perpetuate violence, and the ways in which individuals can resist and challenge these forces.

In addition to these case studies, the book also explores the ways in which King Lear has been used to address the legacies of the Holocaust. For example, Edward Bond's play Lear's Shadow explores the ways in which the Holocaust has affected the lives of individuals and communities, and the ways in which individuals can respond to these events. David Rudkin's play King Lear explores the ways in which the Holocaust has affected the nature of power and authority, and the ways in which individuals can resist and challenge these forces.

The book also explores the ways in which King Lear has been used to explore the nature of tragedy and freedom in the post-war world. For example, Edward Bond's play Lear's Shadow explores the ways in which the Holocaust has affected the nature of tragedy and freedom, and the ways in which individuals can respond to these events. David Rudkin's play King Lear explores the ways in which the Holocaust has affected the nature of tragedy and freedom, and the ways in which individuals can resist and challenge these forces.

Overall, this book offers a valuable and insightful exploration of the appropriations of King Lear in post-war British drama. It provides original case studies on a range of playwrights and explores the ways in which King Lear has been used to address contemporary issues and explore new artistic possibilities. The book situates appropriations of King Lear in a wider literary, theatrical, and philosophical discourse around the play and the Holocaust, and brings Shakespeare and post-war British drama into conversation with Continental philosophy and theory.

Weight: 666g
Dimension: 162 x 240 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474477987