experienced something of an epiphany. He realizes that the system by which he achieved power is thoroughly rotten and needs to be destroyed to usher in a new, non-hierarchical, non-exploitative society. Bond's Lear is thus a more active character than his Shakespearean counterpart. No more is he a mere plaything in the hands of fate; he's a shaper of his own destiny, as can be seen from his—ultimately doomed—attempt to dismantle the wall he built to keep out his enemies.

There is a lot to compare between the two works, but one interesting approach is to compare the two central characters: King Lear. What's interesting about the comparison is how similar the two Lears are. One of Bond's goals in creating the play was to drag Lear into a contemporary situation but leave his essential character unchanged. Bond wanted to show how Lear's faults reflect upon contemporary society, and saw him as a symbol of the West in general.

One of the biggest changes is the character of Cordelia. In Shakespeare's version, she is seen as a force for good who moderates her father's murderous behavior and ultimately excuses him with her love and forgiveness. Bond does not allow Lear to have a forgiveness figure; his Cordelia is a victim of the war.