Editorial note
In our edition, we focus on frat culture and its alignment with the culture and power structure displayed in King Lear. Some roles have been gender-swapped to accept this role. These roles were Goneril, Cordelia, Albany, and Cornwall. We believe this does not detract from the play's meaning but adds a new experience. Frat culture undoubtedly mimics a kingdom. Each person is given a certain role that places them in the hierarchy of this new culture.
The adoption of this page into a screenplay format helps with our goal of reaching a modern audience. For substantive and comedic impact we altered the language into modern slang. We are attempting to reach a male audience, for multiple reasons. First, there has been a recent downturn of men engaging with literature. We hope adapting Shakespeare into a visual format with dialogue that is recognizable to men will enable them to engage with the material easier. Additionally, the screenplay format allows the development of a visual representation, which will also help keep Shakespearean stories alive for the future generations. The character action directions add more depth to the scenes and help break apart large pieces of dialogue. There is a lot to learn about King Lear, especially for young people that need to learn about the importance of putting words to feelings. We hope that our representation of the play helps connect young people with that idea.
PLEDGE:
No my Lord
GLOUCESTER:
My Lord of Kent, remember my boy from this point on as my honorable friend
PLEDGE:
Anything you need, just let me know
PLEDGEMASTER:
Na man I respect that. I want to know you better
PLEDGE:
I’ll make you proud.
GLOUCESTER:
To be fair you haven’t really been here the past nine weeks and you kinda gotta bounce now. The Frat President is coming.
FADE IN:
INT. Frat House – Meeting Room – Night
The meeting room is crowded with empty foldable chairs, all aimed toward one grandfather chair in the center of the room. Previous frat class photos envelop the walls, with bright fluorescent lights beaming down on the room.
FRAT PRESIDENT (22) enters, flanked by Frat Members blasting “Power” on a JBL speaker. GONERIL (21), REGAN (20), CORDELIA (19) enter and sit in the front row. Their sorority girlfriends ALBANY (21) and CORNWALL (20) sit behind them.
FRAT PRESIDENT:
Yo GLOUCESTER check up on the Alpha Delta France and Chi Omega Burgundy chicks.
GLOUCESTER:
Bet.
EXT. GLOUCESTER
FRAT PRESIDENT:
Aight now we have to get down to business.
FRAT PRESIDENT screencasts a map of their university. The map is divided by three circles similar in size, but not in quality.
FRAT PRESIDENT (CONT’D):
This map here, we divided it. Three ways, our Kingdom, which is our supreme priority. Consider all the parties and responsibilities of our Fraternity. Time to give them to young blood.
FRAT PRESIDENT suddenly leaps from his grandfather chair, cracks a smile, and winks at sorority girls France and Burgundy. Their lips portray a smile, but the rest of their face remains still.
FRAT PRESIDENT (CONT’D):
Look at these two sorority girls France and Burgundy. They’re both trying to lock our new pledge Cordelia down. For a long time they’ve been here clearly showing how down bad they are. Here they are, but first my brothers…
FRAT PRESIDENT slowly walks back to his chair and sits down slowly. His legs are spread as far away from each other as possible and he cracks a cold Budweiser beer can, taking a big sip, then dramatically wiping his mustache with his sleeve.
FRAT PRESIDENT (CONT’D):
Which of you do we think simps the most for my Kingdom? We will reward you heavily. The chud that convinces me will get the best reward. GONERIL, since you are a Junior, speak first.
GONERIL stands from his seat, moves in front of FRAT PRESIDENT and gets on one knee with his head bent down, mirroring a knighting ceremony.
GONERIL:
Sir I worship you more than I can say. More than vapes, zins, and our freedom. Even Elon Musk couldn’t turn me against you. No cap, with honor, love, respect, and aura. As much as I love God and my mom. Lowkey my breath and words can’t even describe it. All this to say, you’re legit number one to me.
CORDELIA quietly scoffs in his seat.
CORDELIA (aside):
What should Cordelia do, love and be silent.
FRAT PRESIDENT stands and points to the projection.
FRAT PRESIDENT:
Aight man look at this circle from here to here. You got a koi pond and an arboretum. We give you it brother, for you and ALBANY to have. Forever it’s yours; now what about our sophomore brother?
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, B1v. 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/b1v.
