King Lear, a play penned by William Shakespeare around 1605, serves as the foundation for Bond's adaptation. Essentially, Bond's play is not a mere retelling of Shakespeare's work but rather a response to it, especially regarding Shakespeare's depiction of King Lear and his three daughters.

Saved, a 1965 play by Bond, similarly addresses the violence prevalent in modern culture. Much like in Lear, Bond employs intense onstage violence, but this time his attention is directed towards the contemporary working class.

Mother Courage and Her Children, written by Bertolt Brecht in 1939, also examines the brutalities of war. As in Lear, the change in ruling regimes is inconsequential; the populace remains trapped in poverty and degradation. Similar to Lear, Mother Courage endures significant suffering, yet she remains unchanged by her hardships.

The Wall (1979) is a concept album by the band Pink Floyd. The narrative revolves around a disillusioned rock star who, due to various life events, constructs an imaginary wall separating himself from the world. In his mind, this wall becomes a tangible barrier that he must dismantle to reconnect with humanity. Alan Parker adapted this work into a film.

The Prince, by Renaissance thinker Nicolo Machiavelli, is a seminal treatise on political leadership. It emphasizes the necessity for a ruler to maintain power by any means necessary, including the use of violence and cruelty.