During the storm scenes of King Lear, we are given numerous contextual signifiers. Some of these signifiers are that, the king and the people he is with are outdoors and that shelter is not far. Another is that the elements are stormy and that it is nighttime. Aside from close to the hut, there is nothing to let you know that they are near anything else during the storm. This is what indicates helps to indicate the where the characters are location wise. Each of the characters adds nuance to their lines. Indeed, in response to Kent’s urgent question, “Where’s the King?”, the Gentleman replies “contending with the fretful element” (King Lear 3.1.2-3). It can be assumed that the gentleman knows where Lear is, this instead highlights his mental
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Also, they speak of Lear as ‘on the heath’ to skirt the imagery of the mental and emotional storm. As insane as Lear maybe going, he still knows a good metaphor when he sees one. Ecspecially when comparing his mindset and the weather: “When the mind’s free, The body’s delicate: this tempest in my mind Doth from my senses take all feeling else, Save what beats there, filial ingratitude” (King Lear 3.4.11-14). However, the king is not alone in making these connections. Kent concerns himself with the affects of the storm, for “Man’s nature cannot carry Th’affiction nor the fear” (King Lear 3.2.48-9). These subtle hints allow us to believe he is outside and feed the ability to ignore the literal locale of the actors.
It would be wise to think about the text on its own terms. This may also offer the feeling that the storm its self may be constructed to actually accentuate the mental and emotional storm that King Lear himself is going through. At this point one could assume that what is happening to the characters gives way to where they are. Thus offering the ability of the audience to be immersed in the characters in terms of what is happening to them, rather than where they are. This of course contextualizes the location, which helps to relieve the audience of what physical props and scenery may be
Also, they speak of Lear as ‘on the heath’ to skirt the imagery of the mental and emotional storm. As insane as Lear maybe going, he still knows a good metaphor when he sees one. Ecspecially when comparing his mindset and the weather: “When the mind’s free, The body’s delicate: this tempest in my mind Doth from my senses take all feeling else, Save what beats there, filial ingratitude” (King Lear 3.4.11-14). However, the king is not alone in making these connections. Kent concerns himself with the affects of the storm, for “Man’s nature cannot carry Th’affiction nor the fear” (King Lear 3.2.48-9). These subtle hints allow us to believe he is outside and feed the ability to ignore the literal locale of the actors.
It would be wise to think about the text on its own terms. This may also offer the feeling that the storm its self may be constructed to actually accentuate the mental and emotional storm that King Lear himself is going through. At this point one could assume that what is happening to the characters gives way to where they are. Thus offering the ability of the audience to be immersed in the characters in terms of what is happening to them, rather than where they are. This of course contextualizes the location, which helps to relieve the audience of what physical props and scenery may be