King Lear Madness

The play contains many forms of madness: Political Insanity- Lear’s actions in Act I Scene 1 Goneril, Regan and Cornwall’s bloodlust is an abhorrent kind of madness The Fool’s professional madness Edgar’s fake madness and Gloucester’s half-crazed pity Question-Does Lear’s madness cure his moral blindness?

Lear’s Madness Lear compares his madness to the torments of hell and struggles frantically to retain his wits: “O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven!” The other characters try desperately to keep him sane.

Act III The storm- which reflects Lear’s madness- is appallingly destructive, almost too much for men to endure. It is difficult to see Lear’s madness as beneficial in Act V Scene 3. Having regained his wits and judgement, Lear is tormented again when Cordelia dies. In his final moments he is deluded once more, believing that his daughter still breathes.