LEO TOLSTOY ON SHAKESPEARE’S KING LEAR: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

This article examines Tolstoys views about Shakespeares well-known tragedy King Lear. Tolstoy rejected King Lear through calling it very bad, carelessly composed production and far from being perfect and thus, it can evoke among the readers nothing but repulsion, weariness, and bewilderment. To examine the truth of Tolstoys views, the data collected in the form of opinions by senior teachers of literature in the universities of Pakistan, United Kingdom, and United states of America has been analyzed through applying Louise Rosenblatts Transactional reader-response theory as a research model. Through analyzing the data, it has been revealed that Tolstoys observations are pertinent, however, his assertion cannot be generalized. Every reader of Shakespeares King Lear derives pleasure from literature in accordance with his personal, educational, cultural and professional background. In this way, it has been confirmed that, Tolstoys questions are technically relevant but by ignoring all merits of King Lear as a drama, his attitude towards Shakespeare appears to be biased.