Keywords
Shakespeare, King Lear, Christianity, Christ, Cordelia
Abstract
King Lear is imbedded with hidden Christian themes, expressed through characters like Cordelia and the Fool, to show that salvation and redemption can only be obtained in a world with Christ. The audience recognizes the absence of Christian principles in the play and through our desire for Christianity it becomes a present theme.The theory of presence in absence becomes clearer when analyzing Cordelia and the Fool. Their characteristics mimic those of Christ which reminds the audience of his absence in the play. Throughout the play King Lear repeats the theory of “nothing from nothing” and by analyzing this theme through the work of Jaques Derrida, the compilation of the “nothings” in the play can create a desire for Christianity.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Austin, Kimberly, "Presence in Absence in Shakespeare's King Lear" (2015). Student Works. 129.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/studentpub/129
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
2015-03-11
Permanent URL
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/3347
College
Humanities
Department
English
Course
English 382