Editorial note
For our edited translation, we elected to reformat the original text of King Lear and make it a fan-fiction like text based off of the Middle Earth fictional Universe made by J. R. R. Tolkien. This was done in an effort to make the Shakespearean text apply to a fantasy loving audience, add some levity to a tragedy, and make the piece more accessible to audiences in an age where Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit are well known film series. The simplification of the language, updating of the spelling, and reformatting phrases were meant to serve as a blend of Tolkien’s uniquely sophisticated voice. This is an effort to ensure King Lear can be taught to students unfamiliar with the work. The adding of a LOTR coat of paint serves a two-fold purpose of adding levity and shifting the audience to those that like high fantasy.
Edited Text
Denethor. [low, distracted] The city grows restless… even the stones seem to murmur.
(noticing Faramir) What is that you hide so quickly? Speak.
Faramir. It is little, my lord… not fit to trouble you.
Denethor. If it were little, you would not guard it so closely. Give it here, runt.
Faramir. [hesitating] I would spare you, if I could. The words sit ill… and do not honor their author.
Denethor. Spare me? The ruler of the greatest human kingdom in Middle Earth is not so easily shaken! Let’s see, let’s see it now.
(Faramir reluctantly hands over the scroll)
Den. (reading aloud, his brow furrowing further with each word)
“The Steward’s strength declines…”
…declines?
(continues, sharper)
“When the time comes, the rule must pass to steadier hands…”
Steadier hands??
Far. I feared as much.
Den. “...the throne of Gondor shall not wait upon a failing line—”
Failing line??
(looks up, face contorted with rage)
And this bears Aragorn’s hand?
Far. (carefully, trying his best to avoid being smacked upside the head)
It is… like his quill, my lord. Though I would hope his heart is not so forward.
Den. Hope is a frail defense. I have seen where such hope leads—
usually behind Gandalf, into something on fire.
Far. …That has been known to happen.
Den. Where came this to you?
Far. It was not brought to me, my lord.
I found it cast within my chamber, as though meant to be discovered.
Den. A hidden hand, then. These days even the halflings1 creep about with purpose.
Den. You are certain of the hand?
Far. Were the words honorable, I would swear it without pause.
But as they stand… I would gladly believe it otherwise.
Den. Yet you do not.
Far. …No, my lord.
Den. Has he spoken thus before?
Far. Not plainly. Yet oft he has spoken of the return of kings… of a time when Gondor would be ruled differently.
Den. (coldly) Differently.
(paces around his chambers)
Always the same. A ranger from the North2, a whisper of destiny…
Next I am to yield my seat to a man who spent half his life in the wild and the other half brooding in dark corners!
Far. He does brood quite often, my lord.
Den. I have not held this city against Mordor– against those hideous vile orcs, and worse– to be replaced by a man with a sword, a prophecy, and long luscious hair!
(turns back to the scroll, murmuring) No, there is more at work here…
Footnotes:
- halflings; Derogatory Middle Earth term referring to the Hobbits.
- Ranger of the North; Title referring to Aragorn.
Image credit: Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library Digital Collections, copy *KC 1608. His True Chronicle Historie of the life and death of King Lear and his three Daughters. First Quarto. London: 1608.
Citing this page: Shakespeare, William. King Lear, C1v. London: 1608. Cacodemon Digital Shakespeare. Edited by [your names]. Source edition: Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library (*KC 1608). http://cacodemonshakespeare.com/tragedies/lear/c1v.
