Act III Scene IV King Lear

 

Act III Scene IV King Lear

[alert-success] ACT III SCENE IV

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[alert-primary] Short Summary [/alert-primary]

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King Lear is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. King Lear is the story of a ruler who divides his kingdom among his children and is consequently ruined. Act III Scene IV happens after King Lear is sent away from his kingdom. This scene takes place in a hovel, where he reveals his profound faith.

 In Act III Scene IV, Kent, the Earl of Gloucester, leads Lear through the storm to the hovel, a cave. Lear claims that he doesn't want to enter because the storm outside is nothing compared to the storm he is experiencing within. Lear regrets that his children are rude but decides to avoid the subject because thinking about his children Goneril and Regan will drive him crazy.

Lear directs his Fool and Kent to find shelter.  King Lear makes a speech about the hardships of homelessness, which he is now experiencing. Lear acknowledges that he hasn't done enough to help the poor and vows to do better in the future.

The Fool runs out of the hovel, saying that a ghost has taken over the place. Edgar is dressed up as Poor Tom, a poor beggar. He soon shows himself as the ghost. When Poor Tom acts like he's crazy, Lear starts to lose his sense of reason. He says that Poor Tom's pain is because of his "children."

In an attempt to make Lear feel better, Kent says, "Poor Tom has no daughters, sir." It's clear that Lear is putting himself into "Poor Tom." King Lear starts to think as he looks at Poor Tom's naked, shaking body. Lear asks, "Is man nothing more than this?" as he still feels sorry for the poor. He tells Edgar, "A man without a home is like a poor, naked, horned animal like you”. The King tears off his own clothing to make himself look more like the Poor Tom.

Gloucester enters there and he sees Poor Tom. Poor Tom is his son Edgar in disguise. But he didn’t recognize him. Gloucester doesn’t care for Poor Tom but worried that the king is having friendship with people who are asking for money. He asks, "What, your grace doesn't have any better friends?".

Gloucester tells that has found a warm place to stay and food for the king, but Lear says he doesn't want them because he wants to talk to Poor Tom more. King Lear talks to Poor Tom and calls him a philosopher.

Gloucester says that he understands the King's pain because he just lost his own son. Gloucester says that his pain is driving him crazy, he still cares for the King more. Gloucester gets Lear to go into the shelter but Lear promises to come only if Poor Tom comes with him. And so, goes into the shelter.