Essays+for+King+Lear

__Passage Question on Act Two Scene Three__ Briefly explain what is happening here. Then relate this passage to any THREE important thematic ideas in the play as a whole. = Mark Twain said “Life does not consist mainly, or even largely, of facts and happenings. It consists mainly of the storm of thought that is forever flowing through one's head.” This quote is particularly relevant to Shakespeare’s __King Lear__ as he uses the storm in to reflect the disruption and chaos in King Lear’s mind. Act Three Scene Two in __King Lear__ by William Shakespeare is set during a storm. The storm is the turning point of the play and is necessary to bring about an abrupt change. The change of scenery from the court to the wild heath with its raging storm frees the characters from the court setting; and brings out raw emotions which allow Shakespeare to focus on themes and messages within the play. The storm highlights the thematic idea of insanity and hidden wisdom. The raw emotions Lear experiences emphasize his value of appearance over reality and it resulting in the disruption of justice. =  Prior to Act three Scene two in __King Lear__   Kent has been put in the stocks by Reegan. This has come about because Kent has recognized Oswald and challenged him to a fight because of his purpose against the King. Oswald refused to fight so Kent began to beat him anyway. Reegan appeared and decides to put Kent into the stocks because she sees similarities between Kent and the King’s men whom Goneril was complaining about. Lear later arrives to discover Kent has been put in the stocks by Reegan; this news deeply insults him. Reegan then refuses to house Lear and tells him to go back to Goneril and apologize. Lear in a rage leaves the castle and heads off into a storm. During Act Three Scene Two Kent finds Lear and the Fool and leads them into “a hovel” (III,ii,14) to shelter “gainst the tempest”(III,ii,15). The storm mirrors Lear’s inner turmoil and growing madness; it’s a physical natural reflection of Lear’s internal confusion. His emotions are as violent as the “  [|tempest]   ” (III, ii, 15) raging all around him. During the storm Lear’s “wits begin to turn” (III, ii, 21) and the idea of madness being associated with hidden wisdom emerge. Shakespeare demonstrates that Lear’s position, power and wealth may have led him to believe he could get away with outrageous behaviour because of his social standing. But because Lear fails when he tries to do so Shakespeare reveals he is still human and at the hands of God, fate and Mother Nature. When Lear witnesses the powerful forces of the natural world he discovers that he, like the rest of humankind is insignificant in the world. This realisation is more powerful than his loss of political control and it compels him to become humble and caring saying to the Fool “I have one part in my heart/ That’s sorry yet for thee” (III, ii, 26-27). Before Lear lost his sanity we did not hear him speak so  [|lovingly] to anyone around him. It has taken a lot inner turmoil within Lear for him to feel concern for others. Only now he has lost his position of power does he begin to show signs of [|responsibility], a fact which is deeply [|ironic]. It is during the storm where the idea becomes clear to Lear that appearance should not be valued over reality. Only when Lear is stripped completely of his social standing and reduced down to the most basic needs of survival does it become clear to him that declarations of ones love for him is not an accurate measure of love. Kent demonstrates the filial love repeatedly for Lear saying “Royal Lear, whom I have ever honour’d as my king, lov’d as my father” (I, i). During Act Three Scene Two when Lear is out fending “gainst the tempest” (III, II, 15) it is Kent whom finds him a “hovel” (III, ii, 14) in which Lear can “repose” (III, ii, 16)a after his daughters cast him out into the storm. Kent ’s sense of filial duty is only realized by Lear when he is striped down against the overwhelming forces of nature. It is until this point which it becomes clear to Lear that love, warmth and shelter are essential for survival and required in order to keep sane. What preoccupies Lear's confused mind most throughout the storm scenes is the idea of  [|justice]. He is obsessed with his daughters' betrayal, and he thinks constantly of [|revenge]. Lear's [|anger] is voiced in his many grief-stricken speeches, such as in Act Three Scene Two, where he warns, "Tremble, thou wretch That hast within thee undivulgèd crimes Unwhipped of justice" (III, ii, 4-5). He feels himself to be “More sinned against than sinning” (III, ii, 12). Yet at the time, Lear is being punished for his own wrong doings. Where as Gloucester says “As flies to wanton boys we are to the gods; they kill us for their sport.” (IV,I, 37-38) This tells the audience Gloucester realizes it’s foolish for mankind to assume the natural world works in parallel with society or morally convenient notions of justice. This is juxtaposed with Edgar who believes “the gods are just”. He believes individuals get what they deserve. But in the end we are left with a terrifying uncertainty as the image of Lear cradling Cordelia’s body in his arms enters our mind. Although the wicked die, along with them the good also die. Shakespeare creates a world containing goodness but also madness and death. It is difficult to tell which triumphs in the end. In Act Three Scene Two Lear and the Fool are out in the storm. The Fool begs Lear to return to his daughters to seek shelter but Lear refuses. Kent finds Lear and the Fool and guides them into a hovel in which they can shelter. The storm raging around them reflects the turmoil inside Lear and portrays the idea of madness and hidden wisdom. It takes till Lear is mentally declining and has been completely striped of all power and wealth and is reduced to just a common man before he can see he is at the mercy of nature. At this point it becomes clear to Lear that love, warmth and shelters are key elements necessary in order for sanity and survival. The storm highlights the thematic idea of justice and a world in which the wicked die, but along with them the good die also.