Act Three Scene One:

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Alban Greer
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1 Act Three Scene One: A storm ravages through the land. Kent is still disguised as Caius. He meets with an anonymous gentleman who divulges that the King has resorted to lunacy: Tears his white hair, Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage, Catch in their fury and make nothing of. Strives in his little world of man to outscorn The to-and-fro conflicting wind and rain. This night wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch, The lion and the belly-pinchèd wolf Keep their fur dry unbonneted he runs, And bids what will take all. In turn, Kent duly informs the gentleman about the political tensions arising between Albany and Cornwall- There is division, Although as yet the face of it be covered With mutual cunning, twixt Albany and Cornwall. As well as this, Kent reveals that the King of France (Cordelia s husband) has learned about the situation and intends to lend his support to Lear: But true it is. From France there comes a power 1

2 Into this scattered kingdom, who already, Wise in our negligence, have secret feet In some of our best ports. Kent then instructs the gentleman to inform Cordelia about Lear s unfortunate situation, as well as giving him a ring to offer to Cordelia on Kent s behalf: No, do not. For confirmation that I am much more Than my outwall, open this purse and take What it contains. If you shall see Cordelia As fear not but you shall show her this ring. And she will tell you who that fellow is That yet you do not know. Fie on this storm! I will go seek the king. The scene ends as Kent departs to find Lear. Act Three Scene Two We are immediately introduced to an infuriated Lear roaring at the storm in the skies. Lear s emotional state appears to be in symphony with the storm as he wails for the ending of human ingratitude: Crack nature s molds, all germens spill at once That make ingrateful man! 2

3 Fool urges Lear to come inside from the storm. Lear refuses on the basis on that he would prefer to suffer in the storm than be forced to spend time with his ungrateful daughters: Rumble thy bellyful! Spit, fire! Spout, rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters. I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness. I never gave you kingdom, called you children. You owe me no subscription. Why then, let fall Your horrible pleasure. Here I stand, your slave A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man. But yet I call you servile ministers, That will with two pernicious daughters joined Your high engendered battles 'gainst a head So old and white as this. Oh, ho! 'Tis foul. Kent then enters the scene, immediately urging Lear to take shelter from the storm. According to Lear, his current circumstances are somewhat unjustified as he did not commit many evils against others: I am a man More sinned against than sinning. As a result of this unjustness, Lear can feel his sanity slipping away: My wits begin to turn. 3

4 They move to shelter themselves from the storm. The scene ends as Fool predicts that the country will eventually fall to dishonesty. Act Three Scene Three This scene concerns Gloucester and Edmund. Gloucester is disgusted with Albany and Cornwall s treatment of Lear and is horrified that they have taken ownership of Lear s house: Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural dealing. When I desire their leave that I might pity him, they took from me the use of mine own house, charged me on pain of their perpetual displeasure neither to speak of him, entreat for him, nor any way sustain him. Gloucester is obviously unaware of Edmund s conniving qualities and continues to discuss the confidential information with him. Gloucester divulges that the King of France plans to come to Lear s aid. He informs Edmund that he is going to inform Lear of this, even though this may cost him death if he is caught. He instructs Edmund to refrain from informing Cornwall of his whereabouts as he departs on his message: Go to, say you nothing. There s a division betwixt the dukes. And a worse matter than that: I have received a letter this night. 'Tis dangerous to be spoken. I have locked the letter in my closet. These injuries the king now bears will be revenged home. There s part of a power already footed. We must incline to the king. I will look him and privily relieve him. Go you and maintain talk with the duke, that my charity be not of him perceived. If he ask for me, I am ill and gone to bed. Though I die for it as no less is threatened me the king my old master must be relieved. There is some strange thing toward, Edmund. Pray you, be careful. 4

5 Gloucester then departs. Edmund, delighted with the information, vows to immediately inform Cornwall. According to Edmund, the younger generation must seize the opportunity to maximise on the failures of the older generation: This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the duke Instantly know, and of that letter too. This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me That which my father loses no less than all. The younger rises when the old doth fall. Act Three Scene Four This scene is a continuation of Act Three Scene Two, where the storm is continuing- both physically outside and also emotionally in the mind of Lear. Lear admits that something is bothering him more than the storm outside: Thou think st tis much that this contentious storm Invades us to the skin. So tis to thee. But where the greater malady is fixed The lesser is scarce felt. Thou dst shun a bear. Lear then admits that the ingratitude of his daughters is the source of his anxiety: The tempest in my mind Doth from my senses take all feeling else Save what beats there filial ingratitude. 5

6 Lear still struggles to accept that his daughters would willingly abandon him in the storm: In such a night To shut me out! Pour on, I will endure. In such a night as this. Fool shelters himself. Lear is hit by the realisation that he has done little to aid the plight of similarly homeless people in his reign- a plight that is now all too relatable for Lear: Poor naked wretches, whereso'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm, How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides, Your looped and windowed raggedness, defend you From seasons such as these? Oh, I have ta'en Too little care of this! Take physic, pomp. Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel, That thou mayst shake the superflux to them And show the heavens more just. Fool is shocked to discover Edgar disguised as Poor Tom in the shelter. Edgar, true to his disguise, frightens Fool with his depiction of Poor Tom. Lear is convinced that Tom s state must be due to Tom being ill-treated by his daughters: Didst thou give all to thy two daughters, and art thou come to this? 6

7 What, has his daughters brought him to this pass? Couldst thou save nothing? Wouldst thou give 'em all? Lear, upon learning that Tom has no children, continues to project his own situation onto Tom s. He continues to lament about the destruction that his relationship with his daughters has burdened him with: Death, traitor! Nothing could have subdued nature To such a lowness but his unkind daughters. Is it the fashion that discarded fathers Should have thus little mercy on their flesh? Judicious punishment! 'Twas this flesh begot Those pelican daughters. Tom begins to inform them about his life. Naked, he states that his lack of clothes and possession equate to him owing nothing to the world. This is somewhat inspiring to Lear. Ignited by Edgar s proposition, Lear begins to strip himself while stating that man is no more than their stripped presence: Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou owest the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the cat no perfume. Ha! Here s three on s are sophisticated. Thou art the thing itself. Unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art. 7

8 Off, off, you lendings! Come. Unbutton here. Fool intervenes and stops Lear from stripping himself. Gloucester enters the scene, cursing both his and Lear s offspring- Our flesh and blood, my lord, is grown so vile That it doth hate what gets it. Whilst Edgar and Lear discuss in private, Kent notes that Lear s mind is unravelling- His wits begin t' unsettle. Gloucester finds reasoning in his madness, equating it to Lear s daughters treatment of him. This is familiar to Gloucester as, according to him, his son is an outlaw: His daughters seek his death. Ah, that good Kent He said it would be thus, poor banished man. Thou say st the king grows mad. I ll tell thee, friend, I am almost mad myself. I had a son, Now outlawed from my blood. He sought my life, But lately, very late. I loved him, friend No father his son dearer. Truth to tell thee, The grief hath crazed my wits. What a night s this! (to LEAR) I do beseech your grace Lear vows to only emerge from the storm if he can take Tom with him. 8

9 Act Three Scene Five This scene consists of the furtive Edmund informing Cornwall about his father s allegiance to Lear. Cornwall vows to punish Gloucester and make Edmund the new Earl of Gloucester in order to reward his apparent loyalty. Act Three Scene Six This scene takes place on Gloucester s estate. Lear has completely lost his sanity. Edgar, still playing the role of Poor Tom, is forced to answer Lear s questions in a philosophical manner. Edmund states that he is a victim of deceit himself: The foul fiend bites my back, and his statement certainly resonates with Edmund and Gloucester s situations. Lear, growing increasingly unsettled, imagines that his daughters are in front of him. Lear imagines that he has the opportunity to bring them to trial in his quest for justice: It shall be done. I will arraign them straight. Lear, forcing Fool and Edgar to enact this imaginary trial, is certainly driven to insanity. Even Edgar, despite being in disguise, pities his situation: My tears begin to take his part so much, They ll mar my counterfeiting. Lear s lunacy continues as he fantasises about Regan s heart being dissected. He also imagines Edgar as his knight: Then let them anatomize Regan. See what breeds about her heart. Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts? (to EDGAR) 9

10 You, sir, I entertain you for one of my hundred. Only I do not like the fashion of your garments. You will say they are Persian attire, but let them be changed. Fool s utters his final words in the play: And I ll go to bed at noon. Gloucester then enters the scene. He informs Kent that there is a murder plot against Lear, urging Kent to aid Lear in seeking safety immediately: Good friend, I prithee, take him in thy arms. I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him. There is a litter ready. Lay him in t And drive towards Dover, friend, where thou shalt meet Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master. If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life, With thine and all that offer to defend him, Stand in assurèd loss. Take up, take up, And follow me, that will to some provision Give thee quick conduct. Recognising that Lear requires sleep for recovery, Kent manages to move Lear to safety with the aid of Fool: Oppressèd nature sleeps. This rest might yet have balmed thy broken sinews, Which, if convenience will not allow, 10

11 Stand in hard cure. (to FOOL) Come, help to bear thy master. Thou must not stay behind. All exit the scene, leaving only Edgar remaining. Edgar notes that mental suffering is certainly difficult, as well as mentioning that his own troubles seem increasingly insignificant in comparison with those of the King. Edgar hopes that justice will be served: When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes. Who alone suffers, suffers most i' th' mind, Leaving free things and happy shows behind. But then the mind much sufferance doth o'erskip When grief hath mates and bearing fellowship. How light and portable my pain seems now When that which makes me bend makes the king bow. He childed as I fathered. Tom, away! Mark the high noises and thyself bewray When false opinion, whose wrong thought defiles thee, In thy just proof repeals and reconciles thee. What will hap more tonight, safe scape the king! 11

12 Lurk, lurk. Act Three Scene Seven This scene takes place at Gloucester s Castle. Oswald informs Cornwall about Gloucester s helping role in moving Lear to safety. This development leads Goneril, Regan, Cornwall and Edmund to discuss suitable methods to physically punish Gloucester for his actions. Gloucester is then led into the scene. Gloucester attempts to justify his actions. He states that Regan and Goneril should rightfully have granted the King shelter from the storm. As well as this, Gloucester says that both daughters will eventually be punished by the Gods: Because I would not see thy cruèl nails Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. The sea, with such a storm as his bare head In hell-black night endured, would have buoyed up, And quenched the stellèd fires. Yet poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain. If wolves had at thy gate howled that stern time, Thou shouldst have said, Good porter, turn the key, All cruèls else subscribed. But I shall see The wingèd vengeance overtake such children. Gloucester s eyes are stabbed and his eyeballs are removed. Gloucester wails for Edmund s help. However, Regan then informs Gloucester that Edmund was responsible for informing them about 12

13 Gloucester s actions. Gloucester is suddenly struck by the realisation that Edmund has deceived him, rendering him responsible for Edgar s situation: O my follies! Then Edgar was abused. Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him! The servants are then left alone with the blinded Gloucester. 13

Themes in King Lear. Motifs (Recurring elements and patterns of imagery in King Lear which support the play's themes)

Themes in King Lear. Motifs (Recurring elements and patterns of imagery in King Lear which support the play's themes) Themes in King Lear This resource is designed as a reference guide for teachers. We have listed the major themes and motifs within King Lear and provided examples of scenes where you can study them. Themes