The Tempest In Lear Essay Research Paper

The Tempest In Lear Essay, Research Paper

In Act 3, scene 4, Shakespeare utilizes the ominous storm pounding down upon the

suffering Lear in order to elucidate the storm which actually affects Lear the greatest–the

internal storm caused by the ingratitude shown by his daughters Regan and Goneril. Prior

to Lear’s speech, Kent urges the King to enter a nearby hovel for the purpose of

protecting himself from the seemingly unbearable storm. The tempest in Lear’s mind,

however, is revealed as a greater concern than the storm on the outside. Lear is so fixated

on his daughters’ ingratitude that he scarcely feels the effects of the harsh environmental

elements crashing down upon him. He then gives a metaphorical speech to Kent, and he

declines to enter the hovel while urging both Kent and the fool inside. The speech given

by Lear before he implores Kent to enter the hovel is a major component in the

development of the scene, as a whole, as it cleverly exhibits, through various poetic

devices, both the mental situation of Lear and the progression of the play’s plot.

A particular rhetorical device Shakespeare uses to manipulate Lear’s speech is

syntax and rhythmic deviation. Lear commences his speech using an almost natural

rhythm in which he speaks in long, smooth sentences:

“Thou think’st ‘tis much that this contentious storm

Invades us to the skin….” ( lines 6-7)

However, it becomes quite evident to the reader when Lear begins focusing more and

more on the tempest inside his mind–the storm that he feels the greatest effects of. His

speech thus becomes marked by heavy separations. His sentences become increasingly

choppy, as they are marked by intense punctuation: “Save what beats here. Filial

ingratitude!” (line 14). This syntax and deviation of rhythm is indicative of Lear’s attitude

that his internal tempest is of much greater concern than the harsh storm on the outside.

While he scarcely feels the latter, he cannot avoid feeling the full affects of the former.

The definite shift in syntax underscores the truism that the harshness of the environment

correlates to the ingratitude Lear’s daughters have shown towards him. The short,

choppy nature of Lear’s language also indicates his inability to think complete, coherent

thoughts while his mind is essentially battered by an internal tempest. The harsh “s” sound

filtered throughout Lear’s speech further verifies his inner turmoil over the fact that his

daughters show a diminutive amount of gratitude towards him despite his providing

endlessly for them. The “s” sound in this case serves as a cacophony. It is especially

effective as the reader can almost hear the crashing of waves and the howling of wind

within Lear’s mind.

Thou think’st much that this contentious storm

Invades us to the skin. So ‘tis to thee…(lines 6-7)

Lear’s speech in Act 3, scene 4 also has a distinctive metaphorical air to it and is

accompanied by definite examples of Shakespeare’s lucid imagery.

“Thou’dst shun a bear,

But if thy flight lay toward the roaring sea

Thou’dst meet the bear in the mouth” (lines 8-10).

The preceding citation is clearly characteristic of the principal theme encompassed in

Lear’s speech–that the environmental storm is less daunting than the disturbance within

Lear’s own mind. If one is being tracked down by a bear, they will naturally run. But, if

they are running towards a roaring sea, they have little choice but to face the bear since

they will have no chance to survive the sea. The bear here is being compared to the harsh

storm that Lear rarely feels and the roaring sea is being compared to his internal tempest.

Not only does this set of lines capture a vivid image in the reader’s mind, but it also serves

as a metaphorical comparison between Lear’s mind (the subject of more concern) and the

storm (the lesser of the “two evils”). Another powerful metaphor illustrated in Lear’s

speech is lines six and seven:

“Thou think’st ‘tis much that this contentious storm

Invades us to the skin….”

The key element in this metaphor is the word “invade”, which conjures up the idea of

something, such as an army, taking another entity completely over. This is comparable to

the actuality that Lear’s thoughts about what his daughters have done is the single thing

which are inherently conquering his mind. The reader is now completely able to see the

effect Lear’s daughters are having upon his mental state. Following the metaphor which

concerns the bear and roaring sea, Lear declares, “When the mind’s free, The body’s

delicate” (lines 10-12). This illustrates the certitude that Lear would become more

susceptible to the elements if he no longer focused upon what was eating him, mentally.

However, since Lear’s mind is focusing only on his daughters’ ingratitude and the grief it

has caused him, he is made impervious to the storm occurring all around him.

Near th

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