Part 1 of Essay
In there is numerous evidence that can trace the gradual growth of the main characters mental breakdown. There are a few passages in the play which show us something of Lear before the story begins, and it will help understand the development of Lear's passion into madness to examine these. At the end of the first scene ....

Part 2 of Essay
.... our sentence and out power, Which nor our nature nor out place can bear." In the play itself there are three great outbursts of passion, "hysterica passio" as the King names it. The first is in the opening scene, when disappointment at Cordelia's failure to please him by an open avowal of her deep true love causes his wrath to blind his reason. For Lear, wanting something and having it are the same thing, and finding himself deprived where he most expected to be gratified, he does not stop to think why, but ....