Often considered one of the most gripping and poignant scenes in the play, the storm scene of Shakespeare's "King Lear" is powerful. '/[;.=]1-L0O`King Lear, railing at the storm comes to realize the extent of his problems and those of others. Powerful imagery, syntax, diction and the action all combine during the storm scenes, making them a very important part of the play, showing Lear's descent into madness, and his change in character.
             Critics may argue that Lear is insane from the beginning of the play solely because he gave up power and halved his kingdom, or because he did not have insight enough to realize that Goneril and Reagan were merely feigning love. In Lear's first speech during the storm, the syntax is punctuated with exclamation points, signifying that Lear is yelling in an imperative tone to the elements; though able to get his way before, he in no longer king, and he has not realized it. Also, many of his sentences are long, containing many commas. Both the exclamation points and commas create an image of a man yelling loudly, continuously, hardly pausing to take a breath, like some crazed maniac. "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!...cataracts and hurricanoes, spout till you have drenched..." (III, ii, 1-3). Lear's first words of this scene deliver an image of a fierce situation, howling winds, a torrential downpour, and general natural mayhem. Just the fact that Lear, an accomplished, yet aged king is outdoors, soaked and yelling at the elements shows that he is crazed. People, yet alone kings do not risk personal harm to stand outside in a furious storm to protest the elements. It is below kings' stature to do such a thing. Lear goes on to demand the celestial elements to " Strike flat the thick rotundity o' the world, Crack Nature's molds, all germens spill at once." (III, ii, 7-8) Lear, having lost his wits, implores the storm to flatten the earth (he would perish as well) and steriliz...