Importance of Act III in King Lear

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The Importance of Act III in King Lear Each act in King Lear has it own, unique importance in developing different aspects of the play. In every act, we see a further advancement of plot, an additional promotion of the main symbols and themes, and a greater understating of the characters and of how they have changed. Act three, in my opinion, is a vitally important act because it carries out all the functions of the other acts, but to an even greater extent; the plot takes dramatic turns, the main themes arise numerous times and almost all the characters show drastic changes. As the “climax” of this Shakespearean tragedy, act three is true to its name and its plot is full of the suspense, drama and tension that are expected of it. As such, the scene opens with the unnerving news from a “gentleman” that Kent meets, of Lear “contending with the fretful elements;” bidding “the winds blow the earth into the sea”. From the conversation between Kent and the gentleman, we see political development in the play. “There is division, although as yet the face of it be cover’s with mutual cunning, ‘twixt Albany and Cornwall”. Seeing this weakness in England’s monarchy, “from France there comes a power into this scatter’d kingdom”. Kent asks the gentleman “to make” his “speed to Dover” and make “just report of how unnatural and bemadding sorrow the king hath cause to plain”. There, he will find Cordelia, who will recognize him by the ring Kent has given him. With the fool close behind, trying in vain to calm him, Lear wanders about deliriously on a “night” which “pities neither wise man nor fool”. As Lear urges the storm to destroy the human race and his “ two pernicious daughters”, Kent finds him. Kent eventually convinces Lear to seek shelter in “a hovel”. After prophesying many confusions and disorders in the world, the fool leaves us as well. The
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