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King Lear is a pagan play, set in pre-Christian Britain, but set for a Christian audience. It therefore contains many Christian elements and biblical references, although saying nothing directly about Christ or his teachings. Cordelia herself is a manifestation of the Christian values of devotion, justice, loyalty, saintliness and love. While the pagan idea of justice is punishment, the Christian idea is forgiveness, and this is where a difference is shown in the actions of the characters. Lear wants to punish his daughters for their ingratitude and cruelty, but later, when he reconciles with Cordelia, he asks her to ‘forget and forgive’, coming to the Christian value which Cordelia has stood by.
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