Robert Goodman answers “What is the significance of the play King...”

Warren Postma asked this question about Station Eleven:

What is the significance of the play King Lear, in the book. I read the book and didn't feel that it was intended to be significant what play was on, in the opening scenes of the book. Did I miss the significance? I liked the book but didn't grasp clearly whether Lear was a significant choice or not that significant.

Robert Goodman Actually that was TOO obvious! As I started to read it, I was thinking, "I sure hope the whole thing doesn't turn out to be a version of King Lear." F…moreActually that was TOO obvious! As I started to read it, I was thinking, "I sure hope the whole thing doesn't turn out to be a version of King Lear." For a while I thought we were to be spared that cliché, but as the book progressed it became obvious we weren't.

If you're going to write a novel or any kind of story, don't be so heavy handed in the beginning that it's easy for the audience to anticipate. Should've made it that he was in some OTHER Shakespeare play, then drop some hints along the way that there was another that was his favorite, and by the end we'd've figured out it was Lear.(less)

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