King Lear Madness

Lesson 8 Key Question
In act III of King Lear the apparent madness expressed in the speeches of Lear, the Fool and Edgar actually contain a great deal of wisdom and insight. Before giving away this kingdom, Lear was sheltered from everything. Now, after giving away his precious kingdom to his two daughters and having everything go completely wrong, Lear is left with nothing and now has to experience life with all of its natural terrors. At the beginning of scene 2, Lear is screaming at nature, like a mad man, to hit him with everything it’s got. “Rage! Blow! You cataracts and hurricanes, spout till you have drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks!” (3.2. 1-3). Lear seems to be going mad at this point but he is testing nature’s strength to
“The art of our necessities is strange, that can make vile things precious” (3.2. 70-71). Lear’s madness has helped him realize what an individual needs in order to survive when left with nothing. From this point onward Lear is never the same, he will keep getting stronger mentally. The suffering he goes throw leads him to greater insight. In scene 4, the storm continues and Lear is standing right in the middle of it. “In such at night to shut me out! Pour on; I will endure. In such a night like this! O Regan, Goneril! Your old kind father, whose frank heart gave all! O, that way madness lies; let me shun that! No more of that.” (3.4. 17-22). This shows madness, but also a great deal of wisdom and insight because he will not let his two evil daughters’ defeat him and his actions at this point are
“He that has a house to put’s head in has a good headpiece.” (3.2. 25-26). With all the madness and insanity that is going on at this point in the play, the Fool still manages to talk with a great deal of wisdom and insight. He also makes Lear aware of his fallen state. “He that has and a little tiny wit, with heigh-ho, the wind and the rain, must make content with his fortunes fit, though the rain it raineth every day.” (3.2.74-77). The Fool still manages to speak and sing with great deal of wisdom and insight. His speech makes Lear realize he must be content with whatever fortune brings and therefore Lear understands he must go and get shelter in the hovel. After the Fool has discovered Edgar or “Poor Tom” in the hovel he says “this cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.” (3.4.77). The Fool believes the storm has driven Edgar insane and doesn’t want the same to happen to him and Lear. The Fool always talks with a great deal of wisdom and insight and help Lear clear his head. He also helps Lear realize what it takes to survive when left with