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Summary King Lear - act 3
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These notes include quotes, context and analysis of all scenes in act 3 of King Lear. Notes come from a variety of sources and got me an A in A-Level English literature!
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King Lear- Act 3
Symbolism of Storm Scenes
- The storm in ‘King Lear’ is a ploysemous symbol
- It can be seen as an outward manifestation of Lear’s internal insanity
- The storm is a symbol, of Lear’s own situation- just as he is helpless against the storm, he is
helpless against the actions of his daughters
- While the family chaos is a microcosmic image of the chaos in the nation, the storm
macrocosmically represents the disorder that has resulted from Lear’s error of judgement. It
is not simply Lear’s mind that is in turmoil, but the country as a whole. Lear’s mental descent
is paralleled with the country’s descent into chaos
- The storm embodies the power of nature. It can be read as a symbol for the displeasure of
the gods over Lear’s abdication or Lear’s maltreatment over Goneril and Regan. The power
of nature forces the powerless king to recognise his mortality and frailty and as a result,
cultivates a sense of humanity in Lear
- The storm is a symbol of extreme suffering in the play and is thus linked to his peripatetia.
The pathos of the play is emphasised as an old man is forced to endure extreme suffering-
intensifies tragic emotions of pity and fear
- The storm could symbolise the power of fate and divine justice. Lear seems to believe that
the storm is evidence of the gods and fate conspiring against him.
- The storm can be linked to Lear’s anagnorisis- it is necessary moral correction for the
hubristic mistakes of Lear.
- There is also a possibility for catharsis. Lear’s suffering may be necessary for the eventual
purgation of the tragic emotions
Act 3 Scene 1
- The use of setting, “A heath” evokes the peripatetia of Lear who is now at the nadir of his
fortune. This is a static part of the play (A3 is events of a single night) that is used by
Shakespeare to reflect on the full peripatetia of Lear
- The gentleman has a choric function and is important in creating the impression of a storm,
“Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea.” The reported speech gives poetry to the
actions of Lear on the heath. The innate kingly power of Lear is evoked as he is reported
commanding the storm. However, this could also be interpreted as a hubristic action or an
act of madness
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