Frankenstein and King Lear: A look into religion, politics and literature

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

5 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

12/04/2008

Category :

Philosophy & literature

Sub category :

Literature

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Summary :

Introduction.
Shakespeare's conception of tragedy in King Lear.
1. An insintric quality of Shakespeare's plays.
2. King Lear's battle with the limitations of his own mortality.
3. King Lear's decission to retire.
4. The coming of the storm.
The idea of 'salvation' in its Christian context.
The idea of the division of sovereignty in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein.
1. Frankenstein - often referred to as the 'modern Prometheus'.
2. Prometheus's desire to bestow more power upon humankind.
3. This division of sovereignty.
4. The pursuit of light.
Conclusion - debating the ethics of scientific developments.

Abstract

religion has foundation in our lives whether we choose to identify it or not. By recognizing the literary works of Mary Shelley and Shakespeare, we can intellectually inherit the limitations of our power as human beings and the important role the Judeo-Christian God plays in our political, social systems and psychological conditions. Both stories pose the question: Did God create man in his own image or did man create God in his image? Yet both cautionary tales take different route in answering it. frankenstein delves into the baseness of existence without the intelligent plan of God, and the dangers of replacing God with flawed mortals. king lear, on the other hand, represents the embodiment of God through a mortal king, and the dangers of bestowing absolute sovereignty into one person.