Saul (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Vittorio Alfieri
- First Published: 1788
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Tragedy
- Time of Work: Eleventh century
- Setting: Gilboa, Israel
- Genres: Drama, Tragedy
- Subjects: Suicide, War, Kings, queens, or royalty, Bible, biblical imagery, or biblical symbolism, Biblical times, Tragedy, Israel or Israelis, Middle East, Battles, Eleventh century
- Locales: Gilboa, Israel
Characters Discussed
Saul (SAWL), the aging king of Israel who, influenced by his cousin Abner and the priests of Nob, becomes paranoid and turns against David, hero of the battles with the Philistines following David’s defeat of the giant, Goliath. Saul’s mental faculties are rapidly deteriorating, so his feelings regarding David fluctuate from moment to moment. Saul exiles David from his kingdom under threat of execution should he return. When David finally does return to Gilboa to humble himself before the deranged king and beg his forgiveness, Saul’s cousin, Abner,...
[The entire page is 860 words long]
