The Gospel of Divine Mercy in King Lear

Małgorzata Grzegorzewska

doi:10.18778/2083-2931.11.20

Authors

Małgorzata Grzegorzewska University of Warsaw https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0194-2919

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/2083-2931.11.20

Keywords:

William Shakespeare, King Lear, gift, mercy, forgiveness

Abstract

The paper discusses Shakespeare’s preoccupation with the Christian notions of divine love, forgiveness and justice in The Tragedy of King Lear. In my reading I employ Jean-Luc Marion’s phenomenological reflection on the givenness of love and Hans-Urs von Balthasar’s theology of Paschal mystery. I take issue with the Marxist and existentialist interpretations of Shakespeare’s tragedy which prevailed in the second half of the 20th century. My aim is not a simple recuperation of the “redemptionism” of the play, but an in-depth consideration of Christian allusions in the play which may tie love and forgiveness to justice and throw light on the ending of King Lear.

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Author Biography

Małgorzata Grzegorzewska, University of Warsaw

Małgorzata Grzegorzewska is Professor of English Literature in the Institute of English Studies at the University of Warsaw. She is a specialist in Renaissance literature and drama, and has published extensively on Shakespeare in Polish and English, as well as the metaphysical poets. Her works explore the connections among literature, theology and philosophy. Among her works is George Herbert and Post- Phenomenology. A Gift for Our Times (Peter Lang, 2016); she co-edited, with Mark S. Burrows and Jean Word Poetic Revelations (Routledge, 2017).

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