Does originality matter?

As we have been covering during classes and as Daniel Fischlin and Mark Fortier mention, in their introductory essay to “Adaptations of Shakespeare: A Critical Anthology of Plays”: “Shakespeare [...] was an adapter, taking existing materials from various sources and crafting them into ‘new’ artistic creations.” So, we can say that Shakespeare did not write many original stories in terms of the plot; he retold some old stories. Taking the latter into consideration, I have found an article that compares King Lear with its preceding counterparts, the article called “To Die or Not to Die, that is the Question: Borrowing and Adapting the King Lear Legend in the Anonymous The true Chronicle History of King Leir and Shakespeare´s King Lear”.

I have selected this article because I think it gives great explanations about why Shakespeare adapted the story in the way he did. Particularly, I consider interesting the idea that the ending of the play can be seen as a reminder for English people that the dangers of a divided country are not longer an option after the accession of James to the throne.

So, at the end is it really important to create a whole new story? Is that actually possible? To be influence by what we have heard and watch is inevitable. I believe texts are determined by intertextuality, but as Shakespeare has demonstrated what really matters when telling a story is not the “what” but the “how”, in that aspect originality is necessary. Usually we need to identify somehow with what we are reading but mostly good stories should have an impact in our own lives. Shakespeare’s brilliance lies in his ability to take an old story and male it significant to his immediate historical context but also in writing a play that transcend because it deals with human nature.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vtocd0kkd4z3lox/To%20Die%20or%20Not%20to%20Die.pdf?dl=0

References

Fischlin, Daniel, and Mark Fortier. "Introduction." Adaptations of Shakespeare: An Anthology of Plays from the 17th Century to the Present. Abingdom: Routledge, 2000. 1-2. Print.

Forse, James H. "To Die Or Not To Die, That Is The Question: Borrowing And Adapting The King Lear Legend In The Anonymous The True Chronicle History Of King Leir And Shakespeare's King Lear." Ben Jonson Journal: Literary Contexts In The Age Of Elizabeth, James And Charles 21.1 (2014): 53-72. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.