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The Theme Of Madness In King Lear: - Coggle Diagram
The Theme Of Madness In King Lear:
Lear
Lear appear powerful at the start of the play, but his behaviour during the love test makes us question his mental state.
When Lear decides to leave Gonerils and go to Regans, he begins to openly fear for his sanity, calling for heaven to help him.
As his sanity disintegrates, Lear achieves a level of self-knowledge and an understanding of the world around him.
Lear's disjointed speech patterns reflect his distress and confusion.
Lear thinks of little else then his daughter's treatment of him
Lear's obsession with Goneril and Regans ingratitude takes hold as he walks through the storm
Lear's madness is primarily by his obsession with ingratitude and respect.
The storm is a physical manifestation of Lear's mind.
In Dover, Lear wanders through the fields, dressed only in a costume of wildflowers.
Lear is torn between madness and compassion
Edgar
Lear's meeting with Poor Tom plays an important role in his growing social awareness.
The encounter also marks Lear's transition from saniy to madness.
Edgar's descent into madness foreshadows Lear's fall into insanity later in the play.
In his soliloquy at the end of Act 3 Scene 6, Edgar comments on his connection with Lear, "childed as I fathered"
Edgar is forced to adopt the role of a madman when he is on the run from his father.
The Fool
The Fool plays an important role in Lear's journey to self-knowledge.
Goneril dislikes what she sees in the fool, probably because she sees the truth in his words.
He alone can point out Lear's foolishness without fear of punishment.
The Fool is a professional madman but his act hides wit.
The Fool continues to show Lear the error of his ways in giving away his position and authority.
Act 3 Scene 2, during the storm, the Fool delivers a satirical analysis of society.
He warns the king against believing that Regan will treat him more kindly than Goneril did
The Fool played the role of Lear's conscience
The Fool has no real function once Lear has lost his mind completely.
The Fool fades from the play towards the end of the third act
Quotes
O matter and impertinency mixed/ Reason in madness!
The basest and most poorest shape
My wits begin to turn
Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing sorrow
O let me not be mad, not mad,sweet heaven!