조지 필의 『다윗왕과 밧세바의 사랑 이야기』: 관능성과 도덕성의 조화

Abstract

George Peele's King David and Fair Bethsabe is unique in that it is only extant Elizabethan play which deals with Biblical stories. The play has collected much criticism that it lacks any kind of unity, by casually paralleling two different plots--the love story of David and Bethsabe and the rebellion of Absalon, one of David's sons. The main purpose of this essay is to trace out the unity which closely connects the two seemingly unrelevant stories.First of all, Bethsabe and Absolon are common in that they have outstanding beauty; their beautiful features create sensual and sexual atmosphere. However, their beauty finally turns out the disastrous outcomes: adultery with regal power and rebellion against regal power.Second, the two plots wrought by Bethsabe and Absolon are interconnected with the most important incidents in this play--the death of David's three sons.Only after the repentance of his guilt and acceptance of his three sons, David can confront the bright future represented by his another son, Solomon. Solomon represents morality survived the sins and disasters of David's house.In sum, the two plots are united and lead to the redemption and regeneration of David's house, harmonizing sensual and moral characteristics of this play.