Similarities Between King Lear And A Thousand Acres

In Shakespeare's play, King Lear, is about Lear's demise while on his journey to wisdom and humbleness. In the novel, A Thousand Acres, by Jane Smiley, it retells Shakespeare's play with a modern twist about a small farm family in a small town in Iowa. Just how Lear gives up his kingdom to his three daughters, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia, Larry plans to distribute his thousand acres betwen his three daughters, Ginny, Rose and Caroline. Although the two books are different in many ways, they are also very much alike because they both involve the themes of Lear and Larry growing and changing, appearances versus the reality of things and how they play out in both books. To begin, the theme of growth and change is present in King Lear. Lear is an arrogant and selfish man; however, he changes and learns how to humble himself throughout events that occur during the play. Lears first act of compassion is seen when talking to the fool. He says, "Come on, my boy. How dost, my boy? Art cold?" (Shakespeare, 70, III.2, 68). This shows Lear actually carrying about someone other than himself, which is something that is completely out of …show more content…
Since they do live in a small town in Iowa and Larry is a well respected man, the appearance to keep everyone protected is the main priorty in the family. There is a conversation between Caroline and Ginny that I think helps back up my reasoning. Ginny says to Caroline, "We did everything for you! We saved you from Daddy." (Smiley, 245). Caroline then says, "Did I really have to be saved from Daddy? My own father?" (Smiley, 245). Larry had sexually abused Ginny and Rose and they said nothig to protect his image, because they knew how impartant that appearance of the perfect little family was. In my opinion, this also shows how blinded Caroline is from the reality of Larry. I feel like she thinks that Larry is a good man, while her sisters are ruthless and