SOURCE: Black, James. “The Influence of Hobbes on Nahum Tate's King Lear.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 7, no. 3 (summer 1967): 377-85.

In the following essay, Black examines the influence of the philosopher Thomas Hobbes on Tate as he was writing his King Lear, maintaining that Hobbesian ideas are seen most clearly in the character of Edmund.

Nahum Tate's famous adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear has recently been the object of renewed critical attention.¹ Up to now, however, no one has commented upon the decided influence which the writings of Thomas Hobbes appear to have had upon Tate at the time² when he undertook to reduce Shakespeare's great tragedy into his own History of King Lear. This influence shows up most clearly in the modifications made by Tate in the character of Edmund, who is the one figure of real literary interest in the adaptation.

There are indications that Tate...