Representation of the Storm in King Lear
Caitlin Girard
ENGL 303
Dr. Kraft
Spring 2013
Representation of the Storm in King Lear
During Act 3 in King Lear, I believe the storm that they encounter throughout the act is a representation of the downward spiral of King Lear's mental state and how he is becoming a mentally unstable King. In Act 3, Scene 2 it begins with Lear challenging the storm, causing a huge commotion when he speaks to the storm, "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow! You cataracts and hurricanes spout till you have drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks, you sulphurous and thought-executing fires" (Lear 3.2 1-4). We see the King outside, cursing to the weather, and begging it to do ...
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and goes on to say, "Rumble thy bellyful! Spit, Fire! Spout, rain! Nor rains, wind, thunder, fire, is my daughters; I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness; I never gave you kingdom, called you children; you owe me no subscription. Then let fall your horrible pleasure" (Lear 3.2 14-18). The storm clearly represents the turmoil Lear is feeling between his daughters. He wants the storm to become violent towards him for it is nothing like his daughters, and this storm owes him no obedience not to do so. He never considered nature a child, but now he wants it to show its potential and power it has to take down his kingdom. The storm shows the power of nature, and that man will never be able to prevail over it, and that is why we see Lear become weak when he is yelling at the storm, "Here I stand, your slave, a poor, infirm, weak and despised old man. But yet I call you" (Lear 3.2 16-18) I liked these lines because, it showed even the King who holds the greatest power over ...
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