King Lear and the art of fathoming

Laurence Publicover

doi:10.1086/699622

King Lear and the art of fathoming

Laurence Publicover

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Abstract

This 12000-word essay explores the meanings and implications of a single line from the 1623 Folio text of Shakespeare's King Lear: 'Fathom, and halfe, Fathom and halfe; poore Tom'. Its opening sections provide context for interpreting the line, outlining, first, the purpose of fathoming in the early modern period, and second, Shakespeare's concern, across several plays, with the measurement of deep water. Then turning to _King Lear_, the essay argues that the line sits at the heart of the play, both registering and contributing towards the peculiar challenges to comprehension and the sense of disorientation the tragedy elicits.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	167-191
Number of pages	25
Journal	Renaissance Drama
Volume	46
Issue number	2
Early online date	27 Oct 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/699622
Publication status	Published - Oct 2018

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Centre for Environmental Humanities
Cabot Institute

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10.1086/699622

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This is the author accepted manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via University of Chicago Press at https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/699622 . Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Accepted author manuscript, 301 KB

Dr Laurence J W Publicover
- L.Publicoverbristol.acuk
- Department of English - Senior Lecturer in English
- Migration Mobilities Bristol
- Early Modern Studies
Person: Academic , Member

Cite this

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King Lear and the art of fathoming

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Dr Laurence J W Publicover

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