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King Lear, B4r

Editorial note

When deciding what edits to make to Shakespeare’s King Lear, we had a few failed attempts. We knew we wanted to reimagine it to make it more accessible for a modern collegiate audience but we weren’t sure how we wanted to do so. We tried using slang and ‘brainrot’ terms to make the text speak to chronically online students, but in doing so we were losing the main messages. We tried updating the text, using modern words to make the text more universal, but it kept falling short. Finally, we landed on adapting the text while setting it in a funny and slightly absurd setting, Greek Life. 

This scene between Cordelia, her father, and her two suitors feels surface level, slightly sexist, and definitely absurd– all words which describe the stereotypical state of Greek Life. In this setting, the interpersonal relationships and the trivial arguments can be highlighted–making Shakespeare appeal to any college student. By modernizing the text, we hoped to better engage younger audiences who may be reading King Lear for the first time. The Shakespearean language barrier is often intimidating for new readers. By removing that, the audience will fall in love with Shakespeare’s stories. After all, it’s what college kids love best–drama.

 

The Fratification of King Lear.

                Sure her offense must be of such unnatural degree

                That monsters it, or she wouldn’t have been kicked out,

                She was such a model sister1,

                I don’t buy2it, something is afoot.

Cord.       I yet beseech you Lear, Assistant Director of Fraternity and

                Sorority Life3,

                I have no poker face4 and am telling the truth, no cap5.

                I would NEVER do something to endanger

                One of my Kappa Delta Sisters6.

                Those sisters are just jelly7 and are mega haters8,

                As I am glad I am not, though not to be,

                Hath lost me in your liking.

Leir.        I’d rather you have never joined Kappa Delta,

                Than to do what you did

Fran.       Is it no more this, but a petty cat fight9 that convinces you,

                Lear, ADFSL

                My frat bro10 of Burgundie,what say you to the sister? 

                It isn’t love if you were just leading her on to get to her friends,

                Will you have her? She alone is worth a party invite

Burg.      Royal Leir, give her back her membership11 

                and I’ll make Cordelia  Sweetheart12 of Burgundie.

Leir.        They’ve already voted13.

Burg.      Because you are no longer a member of Panhel14,

                You can’t come to any more socials15.

Cord.       Have fun with your parties Burgundie, since his true love is

                Hoemaxxing16,  I shall not be his date to formal17.

Fran.      Beautiful Cordelia, your change in greek life18 status

                Does not change your ability to party at the functions19.

                They may not want you as a pong20 partner

                But I still do.

Thy

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, B4r. 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/b4r.

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Notes

  1. A member of a sorority.
  2. Slang for "believe".
  3. ADFSL; Job title of the advisor for all sororities and fraternities on a given campus.
  4. An expression for when ones face cannot hide their emotions, often used in reference to the betting game poker, in which participants may be required to lie.
  5. "cap" is slang for "lie"
  6. Kappa Delta is a collegiate social sorority. "Sisters" is used within a sorority to refer to other members.
  7. Slang for "jealous".
  8. Someone who likes to be negative towards others.
  9. Slang for a petty argument between women.
  10. Colloquial term for a member of a fraternity.
  11. The official title for when someone joins a sorority or fraternity.
  12. A woman, often a member of a sorority, chosen to represent a fraternity chapter.
  13. Panhellenic organizations may often vote on internal matters.
  14. Abbreviation for panhellenic, referring to the governing and trade association for twenty-six women's sororities in the US and Canada.
  15. An exclusive party held between a sorority and fraternity.
  16. The conscious practice of maximizing romantic or sexual interactions with women.
  17. Attendance partner to a dance.
  18. "Greek life" is often used to refer to sororities and fraternities, originating from the organizations Greek alphabet names.
  19. Parties.
  20. A drinking game involving two teams, many plastic red solo cups, and a ping pong ball.
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