King Lear Contents
- Social / political background
- Religious / philosophical background
- The Theatre
- Act I
- Act II
- Act III
- Act IV
- Act V
King Lear and the book of Job
Many scholars have pointed to the biblical book of Job (pronounced ‘Jobe’) as one of Shakespeare’s possible sources for King Lear. Both are about suffering and both present forms of ‘patience’, that is, the ability to accept or tolerate suffering and the capacity to learn from it.
The story of Job
Job is described in the Bible as ‘an upright man’ from the land of Uz. His steadfast refusal to abandon God whilst faced by many serious misfortunes seems to represent the problem of human suffering.Job’s afflictions come upon him as the result of a debate between God and Satan as to whether Job’s faith is strong enough to withstand adversity. Satan is allowed to put Job to the test, but not to kill him. Initially Job’s livestock is stolen and destroyed and his servants all killed. Then his children die in a hurricane which razes their house to the ground. Finally Job himself is covered in boils from head to foot. Only after much soul-searching, and weathering the advice of some unhelpful friends (Job's comforters), is Job restored to health and prosperity in recompense for his patience and loyalty to God.
Iconography
The character of Job would have been familiar to Shakespeare’s original audience not only from the Bible story but also from church paintings, in which he was commonly represented as being an old man, generally naked apart from a loin cloth. When Lear casts off his clothes in the storm, it is likely that many people watching would have been reminded of Job.
How the stories compare
Plot
- Both stories begin with a ‘love-test’, in which the love of a faithful subject is tested in order to prove their loyalty. In the Bible God allows Job to be tested in order to demonstrate the strength of his faith. In King Lear the King tests his daughters in order to demonstrate the strength of their affection
- Both Lear and Job are reduced from high status and prosperity to the lowest condition of man. They lose everything: their homes, their possessions, their family
- Stripped of everything, both men are vulnerable to forces they cannot control
- Both characters feel abandoned, Job by God and Lear by ‘the gods’
- As their suffering increases so too does their power to express their sense of loss and abandonment in words
- Having lost everything, both men are reduced to their central confidence that eventually they will be able to make sense of what has happened to them.
Theme
- Both Job and King Lear are about suffering and the way in which this leads to greater insight into the human condition
- Just as Lear’s punishments can be seen as seriously disproportionate to his errors of judgement, so Job does not ‘deserve’ the misfortunes which Satan inflicts on him
- As their suffering increases, both men grow in wisdom and humility
- Both stories raise profound questions about what it is to be human and about the relationship between humans and the divine
- Both Job and Lear question the justice of their afflictions.
Imagery
The words of Job find many echoes in the events of King Lear:
- Regan and Cornwall’s treatment of the King and Edgar reflects Job’s complaint about unscrupulous people:
They thrust the needy from the path
and force all the poor of the land into hiding. (Job 24:4)
and force all the poor of the land into hiding. (Job 24:4)
- In the storm, Lear’s act of stripping off his clothes and Poor Tom’s lack of warmth, echo Job’s awareness that nakedness is the essential state of humanity:
Job … said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.’ Job 1:20-21
and his pity for the poor:
Lacking clothes, they spend the night naked; they have nothing to cover themselves in the cold. (Job 24:7)
- Similarly Lear’s exposure to the ‘pelting rain’ and the cave-like hovel in which Poor Tom hides, recall Job’s description of the destitute:
They are drenched by mountain rains and hug the rocks for lack of shelter. (Job 24:8)
Contrasting fates
One major difference between the two stories is that Job is eventually rewarded with long life and renewed prosperity, whilst Lear dies. Job has learned the lesson that life’s highest purpose is to love God. Lear dies with no such certainty.
- English Standard Version
- King James Version
1Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days? 2Some move landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them. 3They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow's ox for a pledge. 4They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves. 5Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert the poor go out to their toil, seeking game; the wasteland yields food for their children. 6They gather their fodder in the field, and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man. 7They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. 8They are wet with the rain of the mountains and cling to the rock for lack of shelter. 9(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.) 10They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves; 11among the olive rows of the wicked they make oil; they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst. 12From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong. 13There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths. 14The murderer rises before it is light, that he may kill the poor and needy, and in the night he is like a thief. 15The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and he veils his face. 16In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light. 17For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. 18You say, Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards. 19Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned. 20The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are no longer remembered, so wickedness is broken like a tree. 21They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow. 22Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life. 23He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways. 24They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like the heads of grain. 25If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?
1Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? 2Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. 3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. 4They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. 5Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. 6They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. 7They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. 8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. 10They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry; 11Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. 12Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them. 13They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 14The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. 15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. 16In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. 17For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. 18He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. 19Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned. 20The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree. 21He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow. 22He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life. 23Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways. 24They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 25And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
- English Standard Version
- King James Version
1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus Job did continually. 6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7The Lord said to Satan, From where have you come? Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it. 8And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? 9Then Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for no reason? 10Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. 12And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. 13Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14and there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you. 16While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you. 17While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you. 18While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you. 20Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21And he said, Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. 22In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. 6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 13And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 14And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 19And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 20Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
- English Standard Version
- King James Version
1Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days? 2Some move landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them. 3They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow's ox for a pledge. 4They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves. 5Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert the poor go out to their toil, seeking game; the wasteland yields food for their children. 6They gather their fodder in the field, and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man. 7They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. 8They are wet with the rain of the mountains and cling to the rock for lack of shelter. 9(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.) 10They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves; 11among the olive rows of the wicked they make oil; they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst. 12From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong. 13There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths. 14The murderer rises before it is light, that he may kill the poor and needy, and in the night he is like a thief. 15The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and he veils his face. 16In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light. 17For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. 18You say, Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards. 19Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned. 20The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are no longer remembered, so wickedness is broken like a tree. 21They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow. 22Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life. 23He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways. 24They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like the heads of grain. 25If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?
1Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? 2Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. 3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. 4They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. 5Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. 6They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. 7They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. 8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. 10They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry; 11Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. 12Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them. 13They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 14The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. 15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. 16In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. 17For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. 18He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. 19Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned. 20The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree. 21He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow. 22He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life. 23Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways. 24They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 25And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
- English Standard Version
- King James Version
1Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days? 2Some move landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them. 3They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow's ox for a pledge. 4They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves. 5Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert the poor go out to their toil, seeking game; the wasteland yields food for their children. 6They gather their fodder in the field, and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man. 7They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. 8They are wet with the rain of the mountains and cling to the rock for lack of shelter. 9(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.) 10They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves; 11among the olive rows of the wicked they make oil; they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst. 12From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong. 13There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths. 14The murderer rises before it is light, that he may kill the poor and needy, and in the night he is like a thief. 15The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and he veils his face. 16In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light. 17For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. 18You say, Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards. 19Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned. 20The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are no longer remembered, so wickedness is broken like a tree. 21They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow. 22Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life. 23He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways. 24They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like the heads of grain. 25If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?
1Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? 2Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. 3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. 4They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. 5Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. 6They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. 7They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. 8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. 10They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry; 11Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. 12Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them. 13They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 14The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. 15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. 16In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. 17For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. 18He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. 19Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned. 20The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree. 21He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow. 22He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life. 23Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways. 24They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 25And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
A great debate on why, if God is just and good, he allows innocent people to suffer (theodicy); recognised as a literary masterpiece for the wealth and energy of its language and the power of its thought
The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament scriptures inherited from Judaism, together with the New Testament, drawn from writings produced from c.40-125CE, which describe the life of Jesus and the establishment of the Christian church.
The Bible describes God as the unique supreme being, creator and ruler of the universe.
The devil; the term 'Satan' actually means 'Enemy' and is often used to refer to the force of evil in the world.
1. Term for a worshipping community of Christians.
2. The building in which Christians traditionally meet for worship.
3. The worldwide community of Christian believers.
The image of God on his throne in heaven surrounded by his angels and ministers to whom he makes announcements and where he may be petitioned.
People who mean well, but make someone suffering feel worse.
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