Theme of Madness in King Lear

1. Act 2 Scene 4: Lear- "Hysterica passio."-The wicked treatment of Lear represents a great threat to Lear's mental composure.

2. Act 3 Scene 7: Cornwall- "Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot."- Cornwall is mentally unstable to take out Gloucester's eye.

2.1. Regan-"Th'other too!"- Regan streak of madness is shown as she too encourages Cornwall to continue.

2.2. Gloucester and Cornwall

3. Act 3 Scene 4: Lear- "Come, unbutton here."- Lear removes his clothes to be at one with Poor Tom (mad man in disguise)

4. Act 1 Scene 1: Lear- "As thou my sometime daughter."- Mad to disown the only daughter that genuinely loves him.

5. Act 1 Scene 5: Lear- "O let me not be mad... Keep me in temper."- Lear is fighting to keep his sanity after he was treated cruelly by Goneril.

6. King Lear