TIL

[timelets]

“Shakespeare surprised his audience with his version of the story in a way that we now cannot be surprised since we are so familiar with the tragic version. Later, in 1681, Nahum Tate rewrote the conclusion of King Lear, not only saving Cordelia’s life but also marrying her off to Edgar (who may not have been a prince but was certainly well born, unlike his wicked sibling). That version held the English stage for the next 160 years. Purists may object that this ruined the tragedy, but then Shakespeare could be said to have “ruined” Geoffrey of Monmouth’s King Leir when he decided to kill both Lear and Cordelia.”

--- Abbott, H. Porter. “The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative (Cambridge Introductions to Literature).”