After tirelessly thinking of things to connect, I finally thought of something that I continue learn about on a weekly basis through my family, mass, and through my social studies textbook, Christianity. Searching for a story that I could relate to the situation of Edmund, Edgar, and Gloucester, I came across one of my favorite stories which is also a musical, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.
In both King Lear and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, there is a situation where sons are competing for their father’s love. In King Lear, Edmund, the illegitimate son, is jealous of Edgar because he is more loved by his father and is going to receive his property. Because of his jealousy, Edmund devises a plan to eradicate Edgar and leave him to be the sole inheritance of his father’s love and fortune. Though there are 11 jealous brothers instead of one, the situation is nearly identical in Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. Joseph is the favored son that receives more than his share of his father’s affection and gifts. After receiving a wonderful coat, the brothers jealousy reaches an all time high. They decide, like Edmund did, that life would be better for them if he was eliminated and create a plan to oust Joseph from the family. After the brothers deceive their father and sell their brother off as a slave, they begin to receive the attention that they desired.
After Edgar and Joseph leave their families, they are forced to live their lives as a slave and a beggar. In King Lear, Edgar has to live as a beggar because he is wanted by the kingdom for false accusations. Living as a beggar and disguising his identity, Edgar comes it contact with a powerful and troubled king, King Lear. As a beggar, Edgar helps Lear through his troubles and becomes acquainted with the king. Similarly in Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Joseph works as a slave for a great yet troubled pharaoh. As a slave, Joseph conducts favors for the pharaoh in the form of interpreting dreams. Pharaoh was grateful for having Joseph that he decided to promote him to governor. Over time, both Joseph and King Lear meet their families by happenstance and are asked a favor from them. With King Lear, Edgar sees Gloucester has lost his eyes and is asked to be his guide to Dover. In Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, the family asks Joseph for grain and food because they are starving. Later both families realize the identities of their brother/son and ask forgiveness from him.
Understanding this connection is important because it helps be realize the relation and pattern of event that have taken place within Edgar’s family. Seeing this connection, one might think that Shakespeare himself was a devout Christian (which I doubt). These stories, characters, and character relations are truly more alike than different. Overall, I believe that these stories have identical characters and follow a pattern of events that make both an interesting literature piece and bible story.
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