Genesis in King Lear
Shrine of the Bab and terraces illumined at night
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How to Cite

Lysaght, T. “Genesis in King Lear: Joseph’s Many-Colored Coat Suits Shakespeare”. The Journal of Bahá’í Studies, vol. 29, no. 3, Sept. 2019, pp. 83-96, doi:10.31581/jbs-29.3.5(2019).

Abstract

“If we tire of the saints, Shakespeare is our city of refuge.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

A luminary of fi ve religions, Joseph of Egypt looms larger than life. Bahá’u’lláh even likens Himself to “the Divine Joseph” (Gleanings 103:4). However, Joseph’s gradual unveiling as a minor prophet also renders him humanly relatable in ways a Manifestation of God can never be. In the West, Shakespeare and the Bible have each served as paths to knowledge, and their union a way to wisdom. That assertion proves especially true upon comparing Joseph’s odyssey of becoming with Edgar’s in King Lear. Both the prophet and the fictional character, each brother-betrayed, transform unjust adversity into psychological and spiritual growth. They each attain an exemplary sovereignty of self over and above their separate temporal kingships. A comparison of the two aff ords a deeper appreciation of Joseph’s prominent place in scripture, particularly in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.

https://doi.org/10.31581/jbs-29.3.5(2019)
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. If you wish to adapt, remix, transform, or build upon this work in any way, you may not distribute your work without first contacting the Editor for permission.

Copyright © 2019 Tom Lysaght