Dec 18, 2009

King Lear | King Lear: Saints and Sinners

A. Watkinson examines the Christian themes of redemption, suffering, and sin present in King Lear as portrayed through the main characters in the play.

The setting of King Lear is decidedly pre-Christian, and yet despite the many references to the pagan world, and an undefined pantheon of 'gods', the pervading view of the play is one of redemption through suffering. This is a clearly Christian perspective of life and death.

Lear declares that he is 'more sinn'd against than sinning' (III, ii, 59-60)¹, and Cordelia is seen very much as a figure of sacrifice. Both Lear and Gloucester must suffer to an extreme degree before they can come to terms with their lives, and their faults; and through their suffering, they...