King Lear: Madness in England
In the modern era, those suffering with mental illnesses can receive treatment to recover and once again function in society. Even more so, elderly that are suffering with mental illnesses or losing their ability to care for themselves, can retire to senior citizen homes to be properly cared for. Those that are not cared for, or properly treated, can greatly affect the lives of those around them. In shakespeare’s King Lear, there is one character in particular that affects everyone around him, his irrational decisions sends England into chaos, Edgar and the Fool disguise their madness to hide their actions unlike King Lear who experiences true madness.
Edgar’s disguise as Tom O’ Bedlam allows him to hide himself among the other characters, “Sometime with lunatic bans, sometime with prayers, / Enforce their charity. ‘Poor Turlygod! Poor Tom!’ / That’s something yet! Edgar I nothing am” (2.3.19-21). With this disguise, he is able to determine what is truly unfolding in England, Edgar’s decision eventually allows Edmund’s manipulations to be revealed at death. Although most of the characters completely dismissed Edgar’s insane ramblings, his state profoundly affects Lear, “Have his daughters brought him to this pass? / Couldst thou save nothing? Wouldst give’em all?” (3.4.62-63). Lear projects his own problems onto Edgar; he sees a man that has hit the absolute bottom as a human being, “Poor …show more content…
There are multiple sources that cause his madness, one being his age “You see how full of changes his age is” (1.1.290). Another cause for his madness is the horrible way he was treated by his two eldest daughters, At some point Lear truly loses his mind, “Off, off, you lendings! Come, unbutton here” (3.4.106). At the beginning of the play, when Lear’s madness just began to form. His poor decision making skills, caused by his senility threw his kingdom into chaos: Know that we have
In the modern era, those suffering with mental illnesses can receive treatment to recover and once again function in society. Even more so, elderly that are suffering with mental illnesses or losing their ability to care for themselves, can retire to senior citizen homes to be properly cared for. Those that are not cared for, or properly treated, can greatly affect the lives of those around them. In shakespeare’s King Lear, there is one character in particular that affects everyone around him, his irrational decisions sends England into chaos, Edgar and the Fool disguise their madness to hide their actions unlike King Lear who experiences true madness.
Edgar’s disguise as Tom O’ Bedlam allows him to hide himself among the other characters, “Sometime with lunatic bans, sometime with prayers, / Enforce their charity. ‘Poor Turlygod! Poor Tom!’ / That’s something yet! Edgar I nothing am” (2.3.19-21). With this disguise, he is able to determine what is truly unfolding in England, Edgar’s decision eventually allows Edmund’s manipulations to be revealed at death. Although most of the characters completely dismissed Edgar’s insane ramblings, his state profoundly affects Lear, “Have his daughters brought him to this pass? / Couldst thou save nothing? Wouldst give’em all?” (3.4.62-63). Lear projects his own problems onto Edgar; he sees a man that has hit the absolute bottom as a human being, “Poor …show more content…
There are multiple sources that cause his madness, one being his age “You see how full of changes his age is” (1.1.290). Another cause for his madness is the horrible way he was treated by his two eldest daughters, At some point Lear truly loses his mind, “Off, off, you lendings! Come, unbutton here” (3.4.106). At the beginning of the play, when Lear’s madness just began to form. His poor decision making skills, caused by his senility threw his kingdom into chaos: Know that we have