The storm reflects Lear's rage at his eldest daughters and the beginning of his madness. There is nothing left in life for him and he wants the physical discomfort to drown out his emotional pain. He completely depends on his authority before he loses it to his daughters. During the storm, he realizes his insignificance compared to the uncontrollable power of nature. Also, he compares Goneril and Regan to wild animals, which follow natural laws instead of societal laws because they lack morals or compassion for their father. He calls them "pelican daughters" (III.iv.81) because pelicans were thought to have fed their young with their own blood. Once they get what they want from him by ungratefully taking his wealth, they leave him alone to take care of himself. Lear vents his frustration about his daughters and himself to the storm because he knows that every person, no matter their societal rank, is at the mercy of nature. He accepts nature's punishment and wants it to also release its wrath on Goneril and Regan.
I see weather as an expression of wonderment rather than anger. During the summer, one day I witnessed nature as it brew a storm. My sisters rushed home immediately, but I wanted to watch the storm approach. While I was sitting on the beach, dark clouds suddenly began rolling quickly across the sky. A distinct line formed between the clear blue sky on the left side and the impending grey clouds on the right. The vast clouds that extended their white tendrils high into the air sharply contrasted with the dark grey sky. When the darkness took over and a violent wind blasted sand into my legs, my mom and I hastily packed up our belongings. As we ran back to the beach house, it began to pour. The rain stopped soon after we got home, just as abruptly as it had started. I was amazed to experience the immense power of nature at work.
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