Analysis of King Lear

Jessica Vanden Berg’s assertion that Cordelia is portrayed as a Christ-like figure in Shakespeare’s King Lear is supported through faith a single compound word: “Christ-like.” In the beginning of the play, Cordelia expressed her love for her father, King Lear, to be a love that cannot be shown through empty words, but through righteous actions. Despite being disowned and banished by her father for not professing her love for him through the same vanity shown by her sisters, Cordelia never ceased loving her father; nor did her devotion to him and her country diminish. Cordelia’s love for her father and understanding of his aged state of mind is the reason France invades England. Though her heart could have hardened, and she understands the risk of death to save her father, her faith and purity model that of Christ. She says, “—O dear father, / it is thy business that I go about,” (4.3.23-24). 1 Peter 2:21 says, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

In her thesis, Vanden Berg argues against critics who feel Shakespeare’s characterization of Cordelia is not meant to exhibit Christ-like qualities. Vanden Berg states, “Christ came to find us and save us, just as Cordelia came to find and save Lear,” (7). But critics suggest Cordelia’s death is where the play falls short of any redeeming qualities towards Lear, and, as a result, drives the play away from any sort of sanctifying ideologies. One must remember, however, that Cordelia’s Christ-like qualities do not actually make her Christ. For Shakespeare to suggest that resurrection in the literal sense is possible for anyone goes against the Christian faith itself and may have been misconstrued as heresy. Figuratively, however, Shakespeare’s characterization of Cordelia, “[Serves] as a foundation for other Biblical truths and morals to expand upon,” (6).

One of these morals to be expanded upon is free will. It’s a common misconception that God allows things to happen to us when, in fact, we allow things to happen to ourselves. Christ died for our sins, but his death does not free us from the consequences of our choices. King Lear gave away his power to two of his greedy daughters and disowned the third because of her failure to feed his ego. While many may feel Lear’s death is justified, but not that of Cordelia’s, it is the frail state of his mind that causes this confusion in the first place; and Cordelia is unfortunately in the line of fire as her devotion to him remains strong. In the first act of the play Shakespeare characterizes Lear as vain and blind to truth, but it’s later suggested the King is senile. It is possible that Shakespeare intended to immediately allude to the fact that Lear is not in his right mind through the act of dividing out his kingdom:

LEAR

Know that we have divided

In three our kingdom, and ‘tis our fast intent

To shake all cares and business from our age,

Conferring them on younger strengths while we

Unburdened crawl toward death.

. . . Which of you shall we say doth love us most,

That we our largest bounty may extend (1.1.37-52).

How can the King give the largest portion of his kingdom to the daughter who loves him the most when he doesn’t wait to hear all accounts of his daughters’ love before handing out portions of his kingdom? This alone supports the idea that King Lear is not well, that he knows he’s not well, and that the choices he’s making are not of sound mind. Still, Lear’s actions are Lear’s actions and those in the direct path of destruction are not automatically redeemed—in this case, Cordelia.—because God didn’t cause her death, Lear did.

Regardless, there is a moment or two in which King Lear does appear to feel remorse for his actions, and this remorse does have a redeeming quality to it. First, in a conversation with his Fool, Lear realizes he misjudges the character of his daughters, Goneril and Regan, and admits his ignorance for disowning Cordelia. Later, when he learns Cordelia has come for him, he refuses to go to her out of pity for himself. Finally, in Act 5 Lear asks for Cordelia’s forgiveness and suggests prison together would be better than struggling to regain political power. The fact that Cordelia dies is the final testament Lear faces in recognizing his actions caused the deaths of all three of his daughters—two with desires to kill him, and the one who tried to save him. These actions are indicative of someone deserving of sympathy, as he’s able to realize and understand his misgivings.

Works Cited

“1 Peter 2:21.” Crossway Bibles. 2001. www.openbible.info/topics/being_like_christ. Retrieved 25 Oct. 2018.

Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of King Lear.” The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works, edited by Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor, 2nd ed., 2005, pp-1155-1184.

Vanden Berg, Jessica (2000) "Grace, Consequences, and Christianity in King Lear," Italics: Vol. 2000: Iss. 1, Article 3. scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=italics. Retrieved 25 Oct. 2018.