It was right after Goneril and Regan betrayed me, and my poor Cordelia went against my orders, there was a raging storm. The wind whipped, the thunder boomed, the lightning cracked; it was almost as if nature heard my sorrow. I rain out in the storm not caring about my wellbeing, for I was already in an awful state. My clothes are gone, I am vulnerable. Oh, why did my daughters betray me like this? I gave them everything I even divided my kingdom for them and they didn’t even let me keep my knights. They called me old and unfit for being a king. The anguish in my heart swells with every step I take into the storm.
I hear - uh - Kent - no I banished him - I don’t know his name. I hear my servant call out to me, telling me to get back inside so that I don’t get sick, but I feel as though I already am.
I keep running away from them. Leave me be, I tell them. I keep running. They keep calling my name. “Lear come back.” I hear them again. I keep running through an empty field. There is nothing around me. Not my daughter, not my royal court, not my stupid fool. Just me. I keep running and howling. I threw my crown on the ground. I kept running until I reached a forest.
I was hesitant to go in but I have nothing left. The only woman that loved me died. Cordelia! Goneril! Regan! Oh, why? Why? Why do you do this to me?
The forest looked very inviting. It was almost like a sanctuary. The leaves of the trees overlapped and created a canopy. The midnight flowers were blooming, even in the rain. The birds were silently singing their song, while taking shelter in the holes of the trees. Squirrels curled up with their tails wrapped around their heads. It looked almost peaceful, despite the storm raging on. I stopped running.
I took a nice stroll into the forest. It calmed me, but there was still a gaping hole in my heart. I got lost in thought about my daughters and how I treated them. Was it my fault? Did I do something? Could they have just misunderstood me? Am I in the wrong? These thoughts swirled in my mind. Then a flash of lightning came and I was struck.
Huh?...Where?...Forest?...White room?...Where am I?... He is confused, they said. He is in and out of consciousness they said. There are people in blue suits. Have I been kidnapped by the French? I am King Lear, I tell them. They said he seems to be delusional. I do not know what that means. There are bright lights everywhere. Where am I? They asked me if I knew where I was and who I was? I honestly don't know anymore.
They told me that I was at a hospital - I think that that is a medical center of some sort. They asked me what year it was? I said I didn’t know. It seemed as though it was only yesterday when I was holding Cordelia in my arms. I don’t know what year it is. They tell me it was 2016. I had a fit. I told them that they are mad there is no possible way it is 2016. I told them I am King Lear of England. They put these chains, or bonds, on my hands and legs. I couldn’t move. I started to cry. How annoying. I am a grown man crying. I felt very tired. Did they give me poison?
I woke up in a white padded room. My arms were tied to my body. I was in a white suit. It was made of a canvas of some sort. Someone came into the room. They talked to me like a baby. “How are you doing,” they asked me in a very demeaning way. I told them I am king, and I wanted to get out of this godforsaken place. I heard them mumble “Yeah so does everyone.” Then just let me out. It’s not that hard.
The person left and closed the door again. I was alone. Again. It was kind of comforting. There was no one to tell me that I was old or anyone who has the ability to betray me. My ex-royal servant, Kent, told me about my own daughter. He did not raise her. He has no right to speak about the way I treat my daughter. However, I do now realize that he was right. Cordelia was the loveliest daughter.
I do not know how long I’ve been in this room. I want to leave. I want to go home. I want to see Cordelia.
…
“Lear! Where are you?,” Kent in disguise called out. The storm had cleared and had left the kingdom in shambles. The king was missing and no one had no idea where he was. Kent in disguise and Poor Tom (also known as Edgar in disguise), had taken shelter in a nearby hovel, waiting for the storm to pass. They were concerned about Lear, and told him to come to hovel with them, but he didn’t listen and he ran away. Poor Tom and Kent in disguise tried to find the missing king by retracing his steps. They found the empty field and the forest. The forest in broad daylight looked very different to what Lear saw when he entered the forest. It was in ruins. Branches and twigs lay on the ground. Some feeble trees had fallen over. It was quite a disastrous sight.
Poor Tom and Kent in disguise contemplated whether or not they should go into the forest. Kent in disguise, being the loyal servant that he is, decides to enter the forest to find his master. He returns from the forest empty handed.
The two men made their way to the castle to inform the others of the disappearance of the king. Regan and Goneril almost threw a party when they heard. Cordelia was the last to know because she lived in France; she was the most distraught. Cordelia made her way to the castle to try to find him herself.
…
They took me out of the small room and I have never been so thankful for a bunch of strangers. I still do not know what time it is or where I am. No one has told me. They took my hands like a prisoner. I am no prisoner. I am king. But I have learned that if I tell people that I am they will put me back in that room. I really don’t want to go back into that room.
They were pushing me to go somewhere. I would have complied if they just told me where I was going. The person kept pushing me and poking me and pushing. I want them to stop but I guess they won’t listen to me. I get so annoyed that I just start, trying to hit everyone with my shoulder. I try to hit away their hands. I don’t want to be here. I keep fighting. I want my hands free, because they are still tied to my body. I keep fighting. I am king. I am king. I am king. I am king! They pin me down and inject me with something.
I wake up in a bed in another boring room. I try to get up but I am chained, yet again to the bed. Someone comes in. This time I don’t move, I don’t speak. I stay where I am. They sit across from me. They tell me what I experienced was very traumatic. Nearly being struck by lighting and all.
They tried to be nice to me. I don’t know why they are being this nice to me. They are telling me that I may suffer from Alzheimer's. I don’t know what that is. I don’t ask. I rather be at home in my castle reconciling with my daughters. They tell me it’s time to go. I don’t want to ask where. They put me in a room with a puffy chair. I don’t like the look of it.
They told me to get comfortable. I sit down on the odd looking chair but I still don’t like it. They ask me what my name is. They ask me where I live. Are they interrogating me? Did I do something? Oh god, please I repent my sins, I accept my faults, I just want to go home. Please god send me home.
…
Cordelia begins her search in the place where Kent in disguise and Poor Tom said he was last seen. She called for her dear father. She screamed. She wailed. She was aware that her father made a terrible mistake but she forgave him. She just wanted to find him. She walked and should his name. “Father! Where are you? Please come back. I forgive you.” She followed the path that King Lear took.
She wanted to see her father. Even though he had wronged her and banished her, her heart remained wide open for Lear. She found the forest, but this time the forest was the most peaceful it ever seemed to be. The trees held their arms with open invitation, the squirrels danced with each other and the wind whistled an entrancing tune. For a split second Cordelia forgot what she was yelling about and made her way into the forest.
…
They kept asking me questions. Too many of them. I didn’t understand any of them. After the interrogation, they placed me back into my room. I wanted to cry. I wanted to hit someone. I wanted to yell and scream and get out. Do they think I am mad or insane? I am fine. I am just frustrated with the world. I lay in my bed, trying to get some sleep.
I wake up to someone tapping my shoulder. Was it a goddess? No it was someone dressed in all white. May have been an angel. She glowed like Helios and his chariot. It was the most light I’ve seen in a long time. Her face resembled my dear Cordelia. Cordelia is that you, I asked. She didn’t say anything.
I must be dreaming. I thought, how did Cordelia end up in this sort of a hell. An angel such as she should not be here with me, in this hell. I fell back asleep and I woke up on grass. What is happening to me? “Father! Father! Where are you?” Cordelia is that you? “Yes, it is, I am here.” What are you wearing she asks. I say I don’t know with tears pouring down my face. How I must seem so weak to her.
She picks me up and walks me home. She cares for me like a mother would. She is very much like an angel.
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