Discuss Shakespeare's treatment of madness in "King Lear".

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Discuss Shakespeare’s treatment of madness in “King Lear”.

In “King Lear”, Shakespeare uses many different concepts of madness, real, feigned and professional madness. The character of King Lear, himself shows high and low points of genuine insanity. The character Edgar disguises himself as a deranged beggar. The fool displays madness for humour as part of his job as an entertainer. Throughout the play Shakespeare also uses a background of bizarre weather conditions to emphasise the theme of madness. Most of the characters apart from Edmund have a belief in the gods; these beliefs can be seen as absurd to a modern day reader. Gloucester’s madness is his inability to understand situations and to see people for what they really are.

        King Lear’s madness starts at the beginning of the play with political insanity when he decides to divide his kingdom between his daughters using a ‘love test’. His ‘love test’ unfolds the wrong results. He ends up giving the kingdom to Goneril and Regan, the daughters that love him least and sending away Cordelia, the daughter that really cares for him. The Earl of Kent realises Lear has not seen the insincerity of Goneril and Regan labelling him as mad for succumbing to their charms.

“Be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad…when power to flattery bows…And in thy best consideration check this hideous rashness.”

(Act 1 Scene 1, Kent to Lear)

King Lear shows madness in his anger when he banishes Kent for opposing his decisions of dividing his kingdom. King Lear expects obedience from everyone and is used to getting his own way. He explodes with anger when Cordelia and Kent don’t respond to him the way he wants. King Lear’s explosions of anger hint his future madness. Other hints of his future madness come when Goneril dismisses 50 of Lear’s followers, he shouts threats and curses and his speaking become more irregular as he becomes more distressed.

        In Act One Scene 5, Lear begins to regret his treatment of Cordelia and worries that Goneril’s ingratitude is driving him mad. Lear’s mental state is becoming increasingly fragile.

“O let me not be mad, not mad sweet heaven; keep me in temper, I would not be mad.”

(Act 1 Scene 5, Lear)

Lear’s mental stability continues to come into question when he argues with Goneril and Regan. Lear’s daughters’ ability to strip him of his power and authority sends him into a mad frenzy. Lear becomes hysterical with sorrow.

“O fool, I shall go mad.”

(Act 2 Scene 2, Lear)

Lear leaves Goneril’s house with the intent to stay with his other daughter Regan. However, Regan, like her sister, has no plans of allowing Lear and his knights in her house. Goneril informs Regan of their father’s plans. On receipt of this information, Regan decides to visit Gloucester, intentionally spoiling Lear’s plans.

“I have this evening from my sister been well inform’d of them…That if they come to sojourn at my house, I’ll not be there.”

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(Act 2 Scene 1, Regan)

When Kent arrives with a message from Lear and fights with Oswald, Regan along with her husband Cornwall lock Kent in the stocks, ignoring the King’s authority by treating his representative with no respect. When Gloucester tries to convince Cornwall and Regan to release Kent because the King will ‘take it ill’ that his messenger has been ‘thus restrain’d’, Cornwall is not afraid to accept the blame.

“I’ll answer that.”

(Act 2 Scene 2, Cornwall)

 

        When Lear arrives at Gloucester’s castle, he is confused to why no message has been sent ...

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