The Difference Between Reading and Viewing

I always find it so different to read a play and then see it preformed. As hard as I try, I have a hard time visualizing plays when I read them. I often forget who the characters are, or which ones are speaking. I had the same problem while reading King Lear. I understood the scenes after we discussed them In class, but when I was reading on my own I ran into problems.

Watching clips from King Lear being preformed was a great experience for me, because I finally understood the scenes more clearly. Film has a way of engaging a  person, and keeping their attention from wondering. I likes that in the film they focused on a character’s face when they were being talked to, it made it easier for me to tell which character it was.

My favorite scene that we watched was the ending scene on the battlefield. Watching it was much more heartbreaking than simply reading about it. The actors in the film where able to convey their given emotions perfectly, and emote a feeling of somberness. The costume choice for this film was interesting because the King and all of his daughters where wearing white when they died. As if the white represented innocence and purity. Their costumes stood out against the dark skies of the battlefield, which made my eyes immediately focus on the family. Overall I was happy that we had the opportunity to see the play put to life, it changed by viewpoint on the scenes in the play, and made me understand Shakespeare’s words more lucidly.