Introduction
Akira Kurosawa's Ran is based on the 16th Century play, King Lear, by William Shakespeare. The main plots behind the two works are identical. Besides Ran’s adapted parallel characters like Hidetora, there are theme similarities and differences. In both stories, a leader decides to divide his kingdom among three heirs and a child identifies their father’s undoing in both. The similarities and differences in the plots of the two works underpin major similarities and differences in themes. For example, both works capture the theme of conflict between authority and challenge within the family albeit not exactly in the same way. Also, themes such as love, vengeance, destruction of the family, and betrayal emerge from the two works with similarities and differences. This essay provides a comparison and contrast in Shakespeare’s King Lear and Akira Kurosawa’s Ran.
The first thematic similarity between Kurosawa’s film Ran and Shakespeare’s King Lear is that they both capture the theme of conflict between authority and challenge within the family. In Ran, Saburo challenges the wisdom of his father, Lord Hidetora Ichimonji, who has bequeathed his kingdom and castles to his sons Taro, Jiro, and Saburo. Unlike his elder brothers, Saburo does not show hesitation in underlining his father’s mistake. When his father tries to demonstrate a lesson in strength in numbers using arrows, Saburo ruins the moment, infuriating his father. This conflict is underlined by the exchange of words between them.
SABURO: You are the one who is acting foolishly, speaking such nonsense” (Ran n.p). Lord Ichimonji regards this defiance as a lack of loyalty. Taro also shows great disloyalty to his father after he is accorded some power in the kingdom. He dishonors his father by forcing him to sign a contract in blood, declaring himself (Taro) as the supreme authority in the Kingdom. These instances underline the theme in Ran. Similarly, in King Lear, there is the challenge of authority in the family. When the king summons his three daughters, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, to profess their love to him, Cordelia shows defiance, just as Saburo does in Ran. Goneril and Regan profess their love in a straightforward manner, while Cordelia states “I love your majesty/ According to my bond, nor more nor less” (King Lear 1.1. 92-93). These words underline a deeply-rooted defiance and Cordelia’s challenge of her father’s authority. There are clear similarities in the framing of the theme of conflict between authority and challenge in the family in Kurosawa’s Ran and Shakespeare’s King Lear. Both use symbolism to represent conflict. Shakespeare uses the symbolic professing of love to represent loyalty, while Hidetora uses the performance of a Task with arrows for the same purposes. The difference in the thematic presentation, however, emerges from the fact that while Hidetora’s sons show defiance in a masculine and brutal manner, Cordelia preys on her father’s emotions and love for her to reject his authority.
The second similarity between the two works is that both capture the theme of tragedy. Kurosawa’s Ran is a tragedy of the destruction of the family unit, which is a metaphor for the wider destruction of the family of humanity. “Ichimon” is a Japanese word meaning clan or family. The word “ichi” also suggests unity. The Ichimonji family in Ran disintegrate, mirroring the history of Japan as civil wars rocked it. This tragedy also mirrors the division of human peace and unity as brought about by personal ambitions and interests. Such ambition is highlighted by characters such As Lady Kaede. Ultimately, Hidetora must bear the burden of the tragedy, including his betrayal by sons. “HIDETORA: Is that all? What happened to the Great Lord? Is he dead?
TARO: Please do not joke” (Ran). These words underline the tragedy of betrayal. Taro has betrayed his father’s trust with the Kingdom and turned to dishonor him. The tragedy of Shakespeare’s King Lear lies in the gradual descent of the King into madness after he cedes control of the kingdom to two of his daughters, leading to tragic consequences. The descent into tragedy begins when King Lear disowns Cordelia and makes his other daughters, Regan and Goneril rulers of his kingdom. The two daughters are not genuine about their love for their father. They strip him of his money and sentence him to death “I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness; I never gave you kingdom, called you children, You owe me no subscription: [why] then let fall Your horrible pleasure: here I stand, your slave, A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man” (King Lear 3.2. 16-19). These words represent King Lear’s lamentation after his daughters dishonor him. Clearly, there is a similarity in the way the common theme of tragedy emerges in both works. The tragedy in both stories is rooted in betrayal. Another similarity in the two works is that the death of the betrayed, Hidetora and King Lear, comes as a relief from suffering and shame.
Thirdly, a common theme in King Lear and Ran is religion. In Shakespeare’s work, King Lear, there are several references to Christian and pagan deities. The characters in the play appeal to these deities in times of discomfort and crisis, hoping for divine intervention. This attitude towards the deities reflects their natures significantly. One may also link these ideas about gods to justice. Are their gods just, destructive or indifferent? For example, at the beginning of the play, King Lear trusts that the gods are on his side. He wishes for them to punish Regan and Goneril, his rogue daughters, for their lack of gratitude. “You see me here, you gods, a poor old man, as full of grief as age, wretched in both” (King Lear 2.4. 271-271). These words represent Lear’s lamentation to the gods, asking them to punish Goneril and Regan. They also represent a semblance of religion in the context of the story in which the main character acknowledges the existence of a supreme spiritual being. Similarly, in Kurosawa’s Ran, there is a reference to a deity. Towards the end of the film, the fool, Kyoami, claims that Buddha and other gods do not exist. However, his denouncement of Buddha serves to underline the fact that Buddhism is the religion practiced predominantly in the context of the film. It also underlines Kyoami’s initial inner belief in the deity and disappointment that this deity does not come to his aid in the time of crisis. In the film’s final scene, there is a literal depiction of the denouncement of religious faith, as Tsurumaru, using a stick to make his way to the edge of the cliff staggers and drops a scroll with an image of Buddha Amida. This act of dropping the scroll with Buddha is a literal “losing” of religious faith. The depiction of the Buddha Amida further reinforces the belief in religion. From these examples, it is clear that both works indicate a following of religion. The similarity is that in both cases, the characters believe in the power of the deities to deliver them from trouble. Also, there is an element of faith in both works, where the individual believes in the power of the deities even without having physical proof of their existence. The difference, however, arises from the fact that in Kurosawa’s work, there is one predominant deity, while in King Lear, there are several deities.
Conclusion
Akira Kurosawa’s film, Ran, serves as a credible interpretation of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. There are obvious parallels between the two works, underlining the similarities and differences in thematic expressions. First, both works capture the theme of between authority and challenge within the family. Saburo challenges his father, Lord Hidetora Ichimonji when he decides to cede power to his three sons. Although Saburo’s defiant behavior is vindicated in the end, Ichimonji views it as a challenge to authority, and he does not welcome it. Similarly, Cordelia challenges King Lear and is banished. The difference emerges in the approach taken in challenging authority. Secondly, the two works highlight the tragedy of betrayal. Thirdly, they also highlight the theme of religion. However, in Ran, there is one dominant deity, while in King Lear, there are several deities. Undoubtedly, there are various similarities and differences between the two works with regards to themes.
Work Cited
Ran. Japan: Akira Kurosawa, 1985. DVD.
Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1972. Print.
