Editorial note
Our take on King Lear, B1r, is a play on the Maury Show’s 2000s bit of paternity testing for men to see if they are or are not the father. Reactions created memes on both sides, and we’ve decided to create a possible ‘backstory’ of sorts on why Gloucester is still begrudgingly showing Edmund around as his son. Followed by a modern interpretation of the exchange between Kent and Gloucester.
Transcription:
TALKSHOW HOST: In the case of the boy Edmund- Glocester you ARE the father.
GLOUCESTER: NO. THOUS MADE A MISTAKE- THAT BOY IS A BASTARD
TALKSHOW HOST: Oh but he’s YOUR bastard and you must take care of your actions.
-some time later divider-
KENT: I don't understand why you don’t just call him your son, is he not?
GLOUCESTER: He’s only my son because I hooked up with that married woman.
KENT: There has to be a better way to word that- He’s still your son! It's not like any of us can change history on what you did to create him.
GLOUCESTER: He is not the oldest noble heir to my throne and therefore I don't care. You can meet the bastard for yourself and see why he deserves to not be acknowledged as my son. -call out of frame- Edmund come here!
Written and performed by Molly Atkins & Sophia Estes
Video was edited by Molly :D!
3/19/26
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, B1r. 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/b1r.
