Essay On King Lear & Big Fish

Resource Description

Consider the powerful role of composers and storytelling in past and present societies. Evaluate how your texts have revealed or questioned aspects of family

William Shakespeare’s King Lear written during (1606) and Tim Burton’s Big Fish made during(2003) distinctly reflects the power that composers hold in terms of constructively revealing similar and contradicting outlooks about family using different contextual references. The two texts explore the main relationship that a father and child hold and highlights how the difference in time affects their relationship dynamic. In King Lear the focal idea of family revolves around the fight for power and authority. This collision drives a wedge and causes chaos that ensues as the play progresses. In Big Fish family relationships or the lack thereof is elucidated through the egocentric nature of the father which leads to the estrangement of his son. The two texts clearly represent the values and attitudes of family relationships and how storytelling in past and present societies have changed.

Shakespeare’s King Lear set during the Jacobean era clearly illustrates the sacred belief in the Great Chain of Being which controlled the divine right of kings. This ideology is then used to manipulate the relationship between the characters in the play. Shakespeare effectively reveals that the concept of family is misguided since the very beginning; this is evidently seen in “which of you shall we say doth love us most, that we our largest bounty may extend.” This interrogative clause shows that King Lear believes that love is quantifiable. This corrupt idea of family foreshadows the disruption of the Great Chain of Being and the chaos that will ensue due to his actions. Shakespeare reveals Lear’s two insincere daughters Goneril and Regan’s strategic mindset to manipulate their father into giving them the largest “bounty”. This is clearly shown through the use of narrative ambiguity when Goneril says this line, “if our father carry authority with such disposition he bears…we must do something, and i’th’heat”. The fight for power between them represents how family is not considered important compared to having control. This rivalry is not only between father and child but also between the sisters. This is clearly seen when Regan dismisses her sister’s speech by saying “she comes too short”. The use of an idiom shows how Goneril’s love should not be taken literally and is symbolic of how ‘short’ or less her love is compared to Regan’s.

The familial bond between Gloucester and Edmund also reveals the manipulative nature of the characters and the effect it has on their relations to a great extent . This is observed when Edmund forces Gloucester to turn against his legitimate son Edgar. Shakespeare uses this to enforce the idea that excessive greed destroys family relationships. This is clearly evident when Gloucester says this “ O villain , villain…brutish villain-worse than…abominable villain.” The repetition of the word villain shows Gloucester’s anger towards his own son. It also reveals the lack of connection between them as Gloucester was quick to judge his son based on circumstantial evidence. Shakespeare also illustrates how trust can be misused within one’s family. This conclusively reveals the aspects of family and how the Great Chain of Being is restored. This indirectly shows the reconciliation between the characters even though it ends in a tragedy.

Tim Burton’s Big fish written in the postmodern era reflects the complex nature of relationships between father and son due to a clash of different perspectives. Edward’s enigmatic personality introduces an interesting dynamic into the relational conflict between him and his son. William’s sceptical attitude towards his father’s stories clearly shows that trust is very important in order to maintain a strong relationship. Burton uses a close up shot of Will and Edward as they argue during the wedding to highlight William’s suspicion towards his father’s stories. This is due to the excessive use of magic realism to manipulate the truth. The use of a close up helps the audience see William’s frustration and Edward’s confusion towards the situation. This therefore reveals the lack of connection between father and son.

Tim Burton’s use of postmodernism celebrates the idea of fragmentation and reveals that the characters have different outlooks on storytelling; one prefers reality over magic realism. The rise in conflict between Edward and William can be observed in the scene where William confronts his father about his ‘fake’ personality. The use of multiple shots moving back and forth from William to Edward illustrates some sort of tension between the two of them. Burton’s use of mise en scene which includes the placement of the characters and the surrounding shows the awkwardness in that situation. This then reinstates the fragile relationship of theirs due to Edward’s egocentric behaviour and William’s obstinate nature. Edwards’ subversion of reality forces William to assume the worst from his father. This is evident in the scene when William visits Jenny to determine his father’s relationship with her. By doing so he realises his father’s integrity and feels guilty for assuming the worst from him. Burton uses a low key to effectively portray William’s expression of guilt when Jenny tells him that his father is a hero who had earned other’s respect and admiration. Burton shines light on Edward Bloom and his storytelling to show that it acts as a glue for the family connection and makes him an eternal part of the family and by the end William develops a sense of belief within his father’s anecdotes. This is evident in the synecdoche, “In the end, he became his stories”. Burton uses his power as a composer to effectively portray the aspects of family through a world of storytelling and how it brings people closer together.

The two texts have a great impact on the audience as it shapes their meaning of narratives in an unique way. The respective composers have effectively used the idea of storytelling to shine light on aspects of family.The idea of family remains the same but the conflicting factor has changed from the past. The changed ideas can be seen through the themes of power, deception and truth.