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The Human Spirit in King Lear

It is easier to deal with problems if we are able to blame others rather than accept that we put ourselves in the situation. King Lear was turned away from Regans and Gonerils palaces because of his over whelming number of knights that came with him. After he was turned away from his two daughters homes he was left wandering in a storm with only Kent, one of his followers, and the Fool. As they wandered through the aggressive storm Lear repeatedly cursed out his daughters and blamed them for the difficulties that he was dealing with. He refused to acknowledge the fact that he was the one that caused himself to be going through these hardships. To help himself organise his thoughts and try to bring up his spirit, Lear organized a court using two stools to represent Regan and Goneril. By doing this he was denying himself the truth of why he was in the conflict of not having anywhere to go, and dealing with his sinking spirit.
             King Lear wandering in the storm mad can give us a glimpse of what Lear was truly feeling within his spirit. It shows it us that King Lear wasn't as much of a powerful threatening leader that he put out to be, but a normal man. He was not immune to the guilt that was cast upon him after Cordelia was gone; it tore at his spirit and made him unable to speak with sanity. Finding Poor Tom in the hovel showed how he related to the pain that Tom was showing, as he was covered in mud and blood, clothed in shredded clothing. Lear bent down to Tom and shared words with him, trying to relate the situation that they were in and make sense of the wrong that Lear felt was placed upon the two of them. Tom represented the struggle that Lear was going through. King Lear wanted to get clothes and help Tom because he wanted to right the wrong. When we feel guilt for an act that we have been involved in we often over compensate with generosity and kindness to try and make right of the wrong.


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