Examining the Parallels Between Shakespeare's King Lear and Smiley's A Thousand Acres

William Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ is thought to be one of his most powerful plays written. Many works have been inspired and adapted through the themes and messages of ‘King Lear’. An example of this would be, ‘A Thousand Acres’ written by Jane Smiley. Smiley’s ‘A Thousand Acre’s is Shakespeare’s work set in rural 1980s Iowa. The story has an interesting twist which is told by Goneril, who here is called Ginny. Ginny’s farmer is a stubborn farmer who unthinkingly decides to give his land to his three daughters. The novels characters and storyline are almost parallel to ‘King Lear’.

Smiley narrates ‘A Thousand Acres’ from the perspective of one of ‘King Lear’s’ Villains. She has purposefully deprived herself of the play’s emotional core, which is centered on the deferred recognition of true love and the pain of ingratitude. Yet, ‘A Thousand Acres’ touches upon explained gaps from ‘King Lear’. For example, Cordelia’s lengthy absence and the bitterness between Lear and his two other daughters. Both novels intertwine neatly with its inspirations.

The story of the Cook family is a mir...