King Lear- Journal #4

"When the mind's free,
The body's delicate. This tempest in my mind
Doth from my senses take all feeling else
Save what beats there." (3.4.13-17)

On their own, the lines talk about when something is on an individuals mind, a worry or problem. The person is not able to do other things, and their mind cannot focus upon other events besides their problem. Overall, it is talking about how worrys and concerns incapacitate people. These lines are spoken by Lear, right after finding shelter in the hovel. This turns the lines to a slightly different meaning because this is about the time that Lear looses his mind. Lear does so because of his focus upon the mistakes he made regarding his kingdom and his daughters, also how Regan and Goneril betrayed him. While it still is referring to problems, it meaning goes from concerns being focused on to living with regrets/concerns makes you loose your mind. This idea connects with the motif of anger that is shown throughout the play. When Lear, or any of the characters let their anger overcome their sense, they figuratively loose their mind.