Some say it is hard to find your true self. That one can only find sanity after they have gone insane. In Shakespeare’s King Lear many of the characters, Lear included, find they fall into insanity due to circumstances that were unkind and unfortunate. The only way for Lear to realize who he truly was, was for him to enter a state of insanity, and emerge from it with knowledge of self. Through this new found sanity he sees truth in the world.
Madness is a state being mentally ill, especially severely, extremely foolish behavior, a state of frenzied or chaotic activity, according to google. Lear is in a state of madness brought on by his loved ones, and also himself. In the beginning of the play Lear asks of his daughters, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia to speak sweet words, …show more content…
“O, matter and impertinency mixed, Reason in madness” Edgar proclaims (4. 6. 192-193)! Lear also has an identity crisis when he asks who he is, and the response by the Fool is, “Lear’s shadow” (1. 4. 251). Losing is power, kingdom, and identity, Lear does not know what he can do from this point. He has been betrayed by his daughters and is now lost in madness. In the play there is a storm scene, where Lear is divulged in madness, and he starts to become humane. He starts to think of others, and not just of himself. Lear was sent three “guides” in disguise to direct him on his journey. The Fool, who plays the crazy and not important court jester, plays the role of sense and wisdom. Edgar pretends to be a poor and mad Tom so that he would not be held captive by his deceitful brother. He believes as a mad man no one will suspect him, therefor he can see all truths that are before him. Then there is Kent, who pretends to be a wandering beggar in order to serve Lear after banishment. For them to succeed they rely on Lear ultimately losing his sanity, to see the
Madness is a state being mentally ill, especially severely, extremely foolish behavior, a state of frenzied or chaotic activity, according to google. Lear is in a state of madness brought on by his loved ones, and also himself. In the beginning of the play Lear asks of his daughters, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia to speak sweet words, …show more content…
“O, matter and impertinency mixed, Reason in madness” Edgar proclaims (4. 6. 192-193)! Lear also has an identity crisis when he asks who he is, and the response by the Fool is, “Lear’s shadow” (1. 4. 251). Losing is power, kingdom, and identity, Lear does not know what he can do from this point. He has been betrayed by his daughters and is now lost in madness. In the play there is a storm scene, where Lear is divulged in madness, and he starts to become humane. He starts to think of others, and not just of himself. Lear was sent three “guides” in disguise to direct him on his journey. The Fool, who plays the crazy and not important court jester, plays the role of sense and wisdom. Edgar pretends to be a poor and mad Tom so that he would not be held captive by his deceitful brother. He believes as a mad man no one will suspect him, therefor he can see all truths that are before him. Then there is Kent, who pretends to be a wandering beggar in order to serve Lear after banishment. For them to succeed they rely on Lear ultimately losing his sanity, to see the