Editorial note
This edited version of King Lear, specifically page C2r of Quarto 1 adapted Shakespeare’s words into modern-day language and reimagined the scene occurring as a text exchange to emphasize Gloucester’s detachment from his bastard son. Each line has been reworded to reflect modern-day slang that would most likely resonate with the Millenial, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha audiences. Since these generations have largely grown up with modern technology and instant messaging, presenting the scene in this format helps reinforce the emotional distance between the characters as Gloucester treats Edmund with disdain and Edmund actively plots against his father. It is visually organized to mirror a text conversation, with Edmund’s thoughts appearing on a page in the Notes App, where they are presented as unfiltered evidence of his malicious intentions, which support the goal of making the heated exchange of dialogue feel casual and detached.
This edit portrays Edmunds duplicity through his use of the Notes App, a function that emphasizes the audience’s knowledge of the irony of the situation, that Gloucester is actually suspicious of the wrong son. In the original Q1 play, Edmund gives a soliloquy after his father exits, poking fun at his father’s distress and making his intentions clear. In this edition, his duplicity is expressed blatantly in Edmund’s last lines, yet we would have no way of communicating this if it weren’t for the notes app trick.
Editorially, this modern text adaption attempts to preserve major themes and keep intentions of the characters consistent, but because of the implication of the form of instant messaging and considering this particular audience, we had to sacrifice the general tone of the scene to fit a more comedic approach. Upon first glance at the page, Shakespeare’s writing can come off as flat and formal due to lack of tonal direction or subtext. The step taken by the reader and player when interpreting and adapting the tone is crucial to its power. Ultimately it wouldn’t be King Lear if we forsake the plot, major themes, and salient character details, yet this edited version became more of a parody due to that shift in tone.
Gloucester: He’s SUCH a backstabber! I can’t believe what your brother wrote in this letter, it’s absolutely diabolical! Go find that Judas and bring him to me or I’m calling the cops!
Bastard: I dunno I think you should wait to hear what he has to say before making any assumptions. If you’re wrong this could make you look bad and he may not speak to you again! I bet that he only wrote this to test how much I actually love you. There’s no way you’re in danger fr.
Gloucester: Ya think?
Bastard: Ok hmo.
If u dont think its embarrassing to sit behind a bush while i sus things out lets go for it later tonight
Gloucester: I didn’t think he was capable of being such a conniving asshole…
Bastard: Sameeeeeeee
Gloucester: Especially to me
I gave him everything I had
all my love
he’s my fav son
Edmund, I trust you. Go find him and sus it out so I can actually sleep tonight…
Damn
Bastard: I’ll do it, dw
I got ur back
Gloucester: Argh mercury must be in retrograde son. There’s crazy shit happening all over the kingdom and the gods must be schemin against me or sum.
DAMN
So much hatred, can’t we just all get along and kumbaya? I don’t wanna drift from my favorite son
Times are tough man, even Kent got booted for being honest. He just didn’t know when to stfu
STRANGE
Figure this out for me Edmund, but be careful
Bastard: Ok I gotchu Dad
Edmund's evil plan within the Notes App:
This idiot is taking the bait. Everything is going according to plan I LOVE gaslighting!!!!
This asshole.
Yeah and I’m gonna stab him in the back soon…
Okay so he has to shove it in my face again doesn’t he...I'm the least favorite we all know it
Bro is blaming the solar system for being a shit father. Even if mercury wasn’t in retrograde he’d still be a pitiful man and I’d still betray his dumb ass. WIN FOR EDMUND!! HUZZAH!
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, C2r. London: 1608. Cacodemon Digital Shakespeare. Edited by Emma Perez and Meg Lachman. Source edition: Rare Book Division, The New York Public Library (*KC 1608). http://cacodemonshakespeare.com/tragedies/lear/c2r.
