King Lear Thousand Acres

“A Thousand Acres” is a modern remake of the famous Shakespearean play, King Lear. As a result one can find many similarities between the two texts. There are also important differences that affect the final message of the texts. The following will cover the main similarities and differences between the two texts through a close study of Lear’s/Larry’s character. It will also demonstrate how minor changes in the fundamentals of a plot could consequently lead to a completely different approach the reader or viewer could’ve also considered.
In Shakespeare’s play, Lear is initially portrayed as an arrogant, self-assured and over-proud king who is so drowned in the luxury of his authority and power that he has confused his kingship with his fatherhood. In an unexpected strategy, the proud king decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters. However, he does not do it through a political sense and neither through common sense: the daughter which praises and flatters him the most will be his choicest for a greater percentage of the kingdom. It is shocking to see the king of Britian, a man whose wisdom is supposed to be helping an entire country, fails to help himself and understand how praise could be bought with wealth. Larry’s (Lear’s modern character in the movie) approach is far more conceivable and logically satisfying for the viewers. He gathers his daughters to simply tell them about his will to retire and give away the farm. He directly asks for their opinion, not their immediate praise or flattery. Since Larry’s position in his farming society has been established as a leader like Lear in his kingdom, he wishes not to be rejected and even opinions should be in his favour! Lear and Larry both are arrogant and over-ensured of themselves. Moorehouse represents Larry as a respected father and social leader whose word should never be let down, and Lear as the king of a country, whose praise should always, even if artificial, be the indication of his...