Insanity In King Lear By William Shakespeare

One of William Shakespeare’s great tragedies, King Lear, depicts the disastrous consequences and the descent into madness of an English King, Lear, after endowing and splitting his kingdom into 2 for his daughters. In Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 1- 26, this descent escalates into a climax as Lear stands in the middle of a heath, raging to the thunderstorm drowning on him from above to fall and cause destruction. Prior to this his two ungrateful daughters were relentlessly maltreating him, causing him to run outside in anguish and despair. His Fool attempts to urge him to go back to them and be in the sanctuary of a roof however Lear ignores him and continues to curse the weather and his daughters. This famous scene marks a rise to the climax of the play and the foredooming harrowing events that follow. The dramatic purpose of this passage contrasts Lear’s character and the mood to the beginning of the …show more content…
Shakespeare’s ingenious use of Pathetic Fallacy, which is the attribution of man’s deeds to nature, as well as vivid imagery and symbolism, help bring about to the audience the chaotic nature engulfing both Lear and his environment at the time.
The scene begins with Lear and the Fool caught in the middle of an intense storm with Lear crying out above to “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage, …show more content…
Shakespeare’s heavy usage of personification can be seen in the first line. He humanizes the wind by depicting it puffing out its cheeks and blowing. Personification is common in this passage to portray that Lear is on the peak of insanity. His fall towards madness shows a complete change in character in this passage,