A Detailed Commentary On Act 3 :: essays research papers

Write a detailed commentary on the extract takenfrom Act 3, Scene 4When we read &8216King Lear&8217 for the first time we are presented, on the whole, with a pessimistic view of men and society. In other parts of the play Regan, Gonerill and Edmund fix treachery, whereas the character of Kent creates a stark contrast, showing us a strong sense of loyalty by following and supporting Lear throughout his torment. Remembering that Kent was betrayed by Lear in the first scene of the play, this emphasises the goodness of Kent&8217s character. At the beginning of the extract Lear asks &8216Wilt break my heart?&8217 In response to this Kent declares &8216I had quite break mine own&8217. This is just one of many examples in the play where Kent is willing to take Lear&8217s suffering upon himself. Every time Kent enters we mother a feeling of relief because he is there to fight evil, a personification of the rare goodness of mankind. Kent also shows his loyalty and steadfastness for his Ki ng in the way in which he tries to shelter him from the tempest. When Kent says that &8216The tyranny of the open night&8217s too rough for nature to endure&8217, he is really seek to make Lear think it is the storm that is to blame for his discomfort, although Kent is fully aware of the true reasons for Lear&8217s pain.In the play &8216King Lear&8217 grief reaches the utmost depths that any Shakespearean character has ever portrayed. In this particular extract the storm taking place on the heath symbolises and runs parallel with the storm in Lear&8217s soul. His see is so wracked with the treachery of his two daughters that he actually finds comfort in nature&8217s cruel elements. This is conveyed when Lear says that the tempest&8230&8220&8230will not give me establish to ponderOn things would hurt me more.No matter how much physical discomfort the storm inflicts, Lear feels that in comparison to his mental torment the storm is of lower-ranking consequence&8220This tempest in my mindDoth from my senses take all feeling elseSave what beats there.At the beginning of the extract, Shakespeare uses Lear&8217s fibre to the &8216contentious storm&8217 to show us the extent of his suffering. He tells us that the storm&8230&8220&8230invades us to the skin so &8216tis to thee,But where the greater malady is fixed,The lesser is scarce felt.This reference to the word &8216contentious&8217 also gives us an insight into Lear&8217s state of mind.