Spit, fire! spout, rain!

Lear is angry.

He's not just mad; his emotions consistently manifest in rages that fixate on the most convenient target, be it a daughter or loyal subject. I was particularly captivated by Lear's anger being manifested and further fueled while he's out in the storm with the Fool. In fact, Kent and the Gentleman set up the tone for Lear for all of act three during the first scene.

Kent

Where's the King?

Gentleman

Contending with the fretful elements;
Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea,
Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main,
That things might change, or cease; tears his white hair,
Which the impetuous blases with eyeless rage
Catch in their fury and make nothing of,
Strives in his little world of man to outscorn
The to and fro conflicting wind and rain;
This night wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch,
The lion and the belly-pinched wold
Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs,
And bids what will take all.

Lear is taunting the destructive force of a storm that exceeds any in living memory. When cautioned against his exposure to it, Lear argues that it's a storm of justice and he's "a man more sinned against than sinning." Again, when Kent tries to convince Lear that staying outdoors is too dangerous, Lear declares to "let me alone." Lear battles his own anger as he refuses to seek the peace of shelter. The "wrathful" storm is an outlet for Lear's emotional pain of losing three daughters, a kingdom, and possibly his mind.

Lear

This tempest in my mind
Doth from my senses take all feeling else,
Save what beats there...

I can't help but relate. Anger is numbing and powerful and makes you feel as if you could retain some control despite all evidence to the contrary. Lear dies from heartbreak and grief in the end. The pain of reality doesn't need to be felt in the moment all of the time. The only way to survive sometimes is to shut out everything you don't need and cling to what is necessary. Something has to remain to motivate action. It's almost as if Lear as a man dies in the storm and only endures to ensure a righting of his kingdom.

(In a very abrupt shift of tone, I found King Lear Limericks.)