Write 5 pages thesis on the topic the development of king lears madness. When Cordelia fails to reinforce his self-projected image, his excited anger unleashes itself and without any consideration for

Write 5 pages thesis on the topic the development of king lears madness. When Cordelia fails to reinforce his self-projected image, his excited anger unleashes itself and without any consideration for his daughter’s sensitivity, he atrociously remarks “Better thou/ Had’st not been born, than not t’ve pleased me better” (I. i. 6-8) .His extreme reaction to Cordelia’s response, bespeaks of a mind which is accustomed to exaggerated and irrational depictions of anger and fury. This important incident in turn, triggers off a series of future resentments, disappointments and disillusionments which consequently result in intermittent phases of Lear’s withdrawal from reality- his brief and prolonged instances of madness. As asserted earlier, Lear’s withdrawal from the objective world or his ‘alienation’ results in the development of the soul. One of primary requisites for an enlightened inner self is that a person address the most significant existential questions pertaining to his being and his identity .Lear’s extremely disturbing and confused state of mind in the following lines, implies his first encounter with ‘madness’: “Does any here know me? This is not Lear/ Does Lear walk thus? Speak thus? Where are his Eyes?” (I. iv. 8-10). Interestingly, at this stage, confusion or madness induces physical regression in Lear (he feels lethargic hereafter) while simultaneously enabling him to address the most significant existential questions pertaining to his being. It is at this moment that Lear abandons the garb of royal identity worn by him thus far, and dares to address the most dreaded and challenging question of all, “Who is it that can tell me who I am?” (I. iv.13).