What is the meaning of the phrase “the clouds that lour’d upon our house”?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The phrase “the clouds that lour’d upon our house” comes from Shakespeare’s King Lear, specifically in the play’s opening act. The term “lour’d” means to lower or to frown, often in a figurative sense, indicating something threatening or ominous. In this context, it refers to clouds that appear dark, heavy, and full of impending storm—emblematic of bad weather or doom.
Explanation:
In the context of the play, King Lear speaks this phrase in the opening scene. Lear is referring to the stormy, troubled relationship between himself and his daughters. The clouds are a metaphor for the emotional turmoil and conflict within his family. The word lour’d comes from an older usage of the word “lower,” which means to appear dark or forbidding, particularly in reference to the sky or clouds.
By saying “the clouds that lour’d upon our house,” Lear is using the image of dark, stormy clouds as a symbol of the tensions and conflicts brewing in his household. It reflects not just the physical storm that is literally brewing in the skies, but also the metaphorical storm within his family dynamic. This phrase underscores the foreboding sense of doom and impending crisis that hangs over Lear’s kingdom as well as his personal life.
The “house” in the phrase refers to Lear’s royal family and kingdom, which is being torn apart by his decision to divide the kingdom among his daughters. The clouds represent the looming chaos and destruction that will soon follow because of Lear’s actions. It’s a powerful metaphor, as the storm that follows in the play becomes both a literal and symbolic element, signifying Lear’s emotional descent and the collapse of his authority and family structure.
In sum, “the clouds that lour’d upon our house” conveys the sense of impending disaster and familial discord, marking the beginning of Lear’s tragic downfall.