King Lear and the Dark Tower connection

[junai]

I was reading "King Lear" by William Shakespeare again and came across this:

Child Rowland to the dark tower came,
His word was still, Fie, foh, and fum,
I smell the blood of a British man.
King Lear, 3. 4


I'm probably the umpteenth millionth person to make this observation, but it's new to me.

Has anyone else noticed other connections to "King Lear" or to other works by Shakespeare?

[thymeoperator]

it did say in the 'argument' to 'the drawing of the three' that it was linked to 'king lear'. i had wondered what the connection was and meant to look into it.

[wally wonder]

yeah, but not the d.t. nice post. as i recall, i think maybe the shining. a man more sinned against than sinning, our jack torrence. see the little dogs and all, trey blanche and sweetheart, see they bark at me. jack in the shining as a kind of king lear. or something.

it's amazing how often you come across shakespeare in life. just the other day, at this bar, called the kuttin kage salon, i overheard one blue-collar say to another, why i will fight with you upon this theme until my eyelids shall no longer wag. the things that happen...or wait, that was at this hair-dresser and this blue-haired lady had a fit. nevermind.

[Bryan James]

Oh, Flibbertigibbet.

Browning read a lot and wrote a lot.

And he borrowed from those he admired. As did Shakespeare. As does King. As do I.

Good catch though, Junai.

~BJS

[michal]

and I am sure you're familiar with the Robert Browning poem
"Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came
My first thought was, he lied in every word,
That hoary cripple, with malicious eye
Askance to watch the working of his lie
On mine, and mouth scarce able to afford
Suppression of the glee that pursed and scored
Its edge, at one more victim gained thereby.

What else should he be set for, with his staff?
What, save to waylay with his lies, ensnare
All travellers who might find him posted there,
And ask the road? I guessed what skull-like laugh
Would break, what crutch 'gin write my epitaph
For pastime in the dusty thoroughfare,

If at his counsel I should turn aside
Into that ominous tract which, all agree,
Hides the Dark Tower. Yet acquiescingly
I did turn as he pointed: neither pride
Nor hope rekindling at the end descried,
So much as gladness that some end might be.