Religion in King Lear
The world of Lear is not a christian world, it is far from it. In a story where faith is summed up by ancient deities and superstition, where a King is betrayed by his two daughters and another man turned against his own son in a cruel plan for power, Christianity seems nonexistent. But in the midst of the violence and tragedy of this play, there is a spark of christian idealism, of death, rebirth and redemption. And it all stems from a character whose resemblance to Christ himself is uncanny.
There is no doubt that the world of Lear is lacking religious practice. In the very first scene, Gloucester’s openness about his extramarital affairs with Edmund’s mother makes it clear that Christian morals are not withheld in the society of Lear’s England. People seem to do as they please without any fear of divine condemnation. In fact, if anything, human blame is removed entirely from all manner of sins by the their own superstition. Gloucester confirms this when he expresses that the “late eclipses in the sun and moon” are responsible for the wrongdoing of his son. There are, however, many instances where Lear calls upon Ancient Greek gods, demonstrating that people did believe in some deities. Not only did they believe in the existence of gods, but Lear expects to hold some authority over them. While he was King, he was believed to possess divine power, and may even have been considered a sort of god himself. It is clear that if there is any form of religion in the world of this play, it resembles nothing of modern world faiths.
Nonetheless, there is an underlying realisation of christian philosophy in Gloucester’s story. When Edgar wakes him from his attempted suicide, Gloucester experiences a sort of rebirth. After suffering and attempting to take his own life, he is given a second chance, resembling the forgiveness and new life of christianity. Similarly, as Kent and Edgar take on disguises to hide their identity, they are also given new life and a chance to redeem their past selves. The similarity is undeniable and a case could be made that King Lear is in fact christian play, highlighting the ideas that form the heart of christian faith.
Edgar himself uncannily resembles Christ. Even though he did nothing to deserve his hardship and lost everything, he sees his blinded father and has only compassion for him. He holds no resentment towards him and instead literally carries him to his new life. He even says “why I do trifle thus with his despair is done to cure it”. When Edgar takes on another new identity to awake his father he shows that he has truly forgiven him and is willing to do anything to save his life.
At first glance, it would be possible to think that Austen's world in "Pride and Prejudice" is a great contrast to the non-Christian world in "King Lear", but on further inspection I can only conclude that true Christianity is equally nonexistent in the world of the Bennets.
ReplyDeleteAlthough there is a religious presence, with Mr. Collins, the church's most ridiculous asset, and Mr. Wickham's intended occupation, the Christian religion is almost invisible in the novel. Collins is the opposite of what a good Christian should be, by modern standards anyway. He is obsessed with rank and wealth, he shows great self-interest, and several times reveals a disinclination to respect those of low income. For example, when he accepts the invitation to the ball at Netherfield, he mentions that a ball like this given to "respectable people" can have no evil tendency. From this we can gather that he views working people as inherently more sinful than the sort of people who would be invited to a rich man's ball.
This pretend Christianity is almost a reversal of PoorToms LostTurtle's very astute observations on "King Lear", in that where there is no mention of Christianity, there is great Christian symbolism, but in "Pride and Prejudice", where there is a significant presence of the church, there is no real Christianity.
Another example of this false Christianity comes from poor Mary Bennet, who really is doing her best. Her intense study of Christian works seems more for the appearance of sense and judgement than any deep-rooted beliefs or feelings.
The novel also contrasts the play in its story arc. The novel in Christian society has a happy ending which results in the poor becoming rich, where all the peace and beauty of the non-Christian play seems to stem from the rich losing everything, and coming to a greater understanding of the world.
the same way that the world of King Lear is not a Christian one, it is possible to say that about Lizzy's world is not particularly religious either. None of the characters are seen attending mass and none of the characters seem particularly entranced by life at a spiritual level.
ReplyDeleteLike Shakespeare in King Lear one could even go as far to say that Austen mocked religion in Pride and Prejudice. The only character who was in anyway religious was a buffoon. Mr Collins, a clergyman, was a source of comedy in embarrassment in the play. Completely inept at a social level, the characters mock him openly. They have no regard for his status within the church.
Religion and religious values also seem to have been distorted just like in King Lear. In Pride and Prejudice the characters are obsessive about the ceremony of matrimony, typically a faith orientated union built on values of love and trust. However the majority characters in Pride and Prejudice are looking to marry for money and security, in fact the words "security", "money" and "property" are nearly always mentioned in the context of marriage. Few characters are married because of the love they have for each other. Maybe Austen was mocking love or maybe she was simply trying to portray a realistic world at that time?
In vast contrast to the world of King Lear, religion is ever present in the King's Speech and plays a significant role in the movement of the story. The King himself is head of the church of England and this position is the cause of some of his many struggles and forms relationships key to the story.
ReplyDeleteThe Church of England as portrayed in the King's Speech is not only present but powerful. If the size and grandeur of Westminster Abbey didn't make it clear, the archbishop himself demonstrates this power when he first encounters Logue. In no time at all after meeting him, the archbishop had details of his credentials produced and evidence enough to destroy Logue's reputation and potentially his career. Bertie expresses the pressure that stems from this power when he tells Logue "you have no idea who I have breathing down my neck." This quote also shows that the control the church practiced was not always welcome and often scary.
But a more serious problem arises from the position of the King that eventually tears the remains of Bertie’s family apart and fulfils the most real of his fears. Religion in the King’s speech is seen as a controlling power and one of the effects of this is the criteria the King must reach in order to represent the church of England. This ultimately is the cause of David’s betrayal of his family and his dismissal of his position.
There is also a display of christian morals in the way Logue treats Bertie. Logue is the Good Samaritan of 20th century England and takes Bertie under his wing to help him recover from his stammer. He perseveres wholeheartedly and while Bertie is indeed the King it is clear that it is out of true friendship and genuine love that Logue selflessly tends to him, eager simply to help him become what can be.
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