A Storm Makes Nothing Matter

     Lear, out in the rain banished from his land and stripped of his former self comes to the realization that what he once believed to be "nothing" has value beyond his wildest dreams.
The art of our necessities is strange
And can make vile things precious.
In his days past, Lear would have laughed at someone seeking shelter in the miserable hovel. But now it is his savior, his castle, his everything. Lear begins to realize how bad of a king he has been. How he has treated those with no provisions, no home. Now that he has nothing, he sees how much nothing is worth.
     Similarly, finding value in what before had none, this line, And can make vile things precious, translates directly to his daughters. Cordelia not professing her love for king Lear made her vile, dead to him. The storm, his having nothing makes him realize the true value of what he once had. Cordelia is once again precious. He once again sees things for what they are. It is as if this storm is one of truth, for it allows the king to see things for what they really are. In the same way the king allows his jelly to view vile things to be precious, the rain from this tempest clarifies what has been vile for Gloucester. He now realizes Edgar to be his true and thoughtful son, while his reservations for his bastard once again grow strong.
     It is as if the storm is not only bring the rebirth of parent and child together, but the storm cleanses their vile thoughts allowing for the realization of their wrongdoings. Once their thoughts are cleansed, they can see things for what they are and should be. Funny that Gloucester sees the truth about his son just before his vile jelly is ripped from his sockets; similarly, Lear's mind becomes clear while he fights with insanity. It is as if Puck is the storm sprinkling his potion down onto the ones who need it the most. The trickster wants to see order and love once again.