Who is it that can tell me who I am? – King Lear (Act 1, Scene 4)
Though King Lear is sent away and should be done for, blessings seem to come his way. The one character that stays by Lear’s side throughout the play is his jester. The Fool continually warns of the things to come and is the only character to point out the faults of the royal directly. This advice helps the former king realize his predicament and helps him make important choices.
The central relationship between Cornelia and Lear parallels Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son but with a few twists. First, the titular characters are frugal with their spending and are reduced to low-life status. Despite how much they believe they deserve their fate; they are received with open arms when reunited.
While characters suffer due to their pride and reap the consequences, through self-examination they come to eventually accept their faults. For example, Lear ends up losing all power, wealth, and even his sanity, but he soon comes to understand the predicament and admit his failures. In Galatians 6:3, “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” This verse highlights people's tendency to build themselves up even when it is to our detriment, only to be beaten down by life. This makes faith in Jesus valuable because he can show us our flaws and the values of the Bible help us build up a Christ-like life.