Final post for the week. Something that's been on my brain for a while. The Thing. Which is it? The play or unaccommodated man?
It has taken a little while, but by the end of Act 3.2 is Lear becomes Duke Senior. After realizing that his wits begin to turn, he turns his mind to the succor of his companions, especially the Fool, whom the son-less father begins to treat like a sun. In 3.4, the King recites fervent prayer to the "Poor naked wretches"; one of the most beautiful moments in the play. The words, just like Kent's good night/good knight wish to Fortune when he's in the stocks at the end of 2.2, summon up from the dirt Edgar, who is now in disguise as Tom O'Bedlam.
That Lear's wits have turned and that he is now the pattern of all patience, he is able to see clearly and see something magnificent in the hobo-like figure. Ever since the end of 2.4, we have had an idea of Lear's own concept of "Bestial oblivion" (cf. Hamlet 4.4), but it really shines through when it manifests itself physically before him in the form of Edgar as Poor Tom. Pomp has heeded Lear's words, has taken physic, and is now exposing itself to feel what wretches feel. Lear is able to see this very clearly and these are his words to man in his most basic, bestial form:
Why, thou wert better in thy grave than to answer
with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies.
Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou
owest the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep
no wool, the cat no perfume. Ha! here's three on
's are sophisticated! Thou art the thing itself:
unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor bare,
forked animal as thou art. Off, off, you lendings!
come unbutton here.
This is the quintessence of dust. Lear is in awe. Calls Poor Tom learned Theban, philosopher, Athenian and will keep still with him. In this instrument of darkness, Lear recognizes a truth teller. As King in the court, Lear may have had a man like this whipped. As King in nature, Poor Tom is his new all-licensed Fool. The role of the Fool becomes significantly diminutive at this point; the Fool will only be Tom's "yokefellow of equity" (3.6) for a very short time before disappearing.
Edgar, then, as Poor Tom, as unaccommodated man, is the play, is the thing that catches the conscience of the King!
The play, all along, is about accommodated man and the problems that come with the lendings. Borrowed robes. How we manipulate nature in order to suit, placate our fortune (of which we have no control). Remove the lendings. Make vile things precious. Go to the hovel. Find tongues in trees, books in brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything. It is the unaccommodated man who truly lives....
The play's the thing wherein Shakespeare catches the conscience of Man and exposes him, holds the mirror to his obsession and preoccupation with things (money, power, etc)....
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