Chris Young/Canadian Press
It was written in tough times. In 1606, despite the rise of a mercantile middle class and expanding international trade, an extreme gulf had arisen between rich and poor. Great divisions had opened up between king and parliament that within 40 years would lead a generation to civil war and the beheading of a monarch. The same English nationalism that centuries later would fuel Brexit was impeding King James’s efforts to unite England and Scotland to create Britain.
Nothing. That mathematical concept – the idea that you could have a zero without a figure in front of it – was still relatively new to European thought in 1606. How could something exist yet be invisible? But Lear, like the homeless and the poor, becomes such a thing. Today, the friends and neighbours who turn up as digits on the CNN chyron become such a thing.
To see feelingly is not only to see the facts, the statistics and the numbers, but also to understand and empathize with the circumstances that give them context. It opens the door of the heart to take actions that redress wrongs and bring justice.
nisobel GlobeArts Good piece. Realize this is a 'special' to the G&M, still, his comments s/b directed to a Canadian audience vs 'Republicans and Democrats' given that he's working in Canada, at a Canadian establishment, speaking through a (so-called) Canadian newspaper
GlobeArts 'What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: change places; and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?'
GlobeArts Who needs King Lear when child neglect has been happening for eons? Those two of the three daughters were ungrateful of him even after gaining his wealth and power. His third-born daughter was the one who loved her father silently and resented him before he went insane.
GlobeArts I agree, particularly considering they didn't have proper rodent control between 1300 and 1700.
GlobeArts Who needs king leer when we got people creating meme and gifs