* Shakespeare himself: Some scholars believe that the original ending of King Lear was indeed more comedic than the tragic one we know today. It's speculated that the play might have originally had a happy ending, with Lear regaining his sanity and Cordelia surviving. However, there's no concrete evidence to support this.
* Adaptations: Several adaptations of King Lear have altered the ending to be more comedic. Some examples include:
* The Tragedy of King Lear (2008) by Samuel Beckett: Beckett's minimalist play uses a bleakly humorous approach to the original. While it doesn't technically have a happy ending, it is more ambiguous and open to interpretation than the original.
* King Lear: The Comic Strip (1986) by Ian McBryde: This play is a satirical and comedic take on Shakespeare's original.
* King Lear (2009) by Michael Attenborough: While not entirely comedic, this adaptation features a more positive ending, with Cordelia surviving and Lear regaining some of his sanity.
It's important to note that the concept of a "comic ending" in King Lear is highly subjective. While some adaptations might be considered comedic, the original play is a tragedy, and its themes of suffering and loss are central to its impact.
Therefore, to answer your question fully, you would need to clarify what you mean by "comic ending" and specify which adaptation you are interested in.