BlindnessEssay on King Lear
...loucester Legitimate son Edgar was plotting to seek and take his life. When Gloucester was brutally tortured by Cornwall and his wife Regan his eyes were cut out. With no sight Gloucester sees his true nature of blindness. Gloucester: “…Edmound, enkindle all the sparks of nature to quit this horrid act”. Regan: ”Out treacherous villain! Thou callest on him that hates thee. It was he that made the overture of thy treasons to us, who is good to pity thee”. Gloucester: “O my follies! Then Edgar was abused kind gods forgive me that and prosper him” (Act 3, Sc. 7, line 86-94 pg. 199) He realises that he was tricked because he loved his sons. Like Lear’s insanity he sees more clearly after losing his sight. Even though Gloucester and Lear’s had a different nature of blindness they were still lead to their own little revelation. There were many causes that lead them to blindness. While Lear’s causes were his own fault, Gloucester was deceived. Lear’s pride made him blind. Proof of this is when Goneril and Regan supposedly confessed they loved him more then the entire world this made Lear’s ego bigger. He was unable to see Cordelia was speaking from her heart confessing only true love. With a haste, rash reaction he banished his only loving daughter. “//for we have no such daughter, nor shall ever see that face of hers again, our benison”. (Act 1. Sc, 1 Ln, 264-267). Another flaw that caused Lear’s blindness is his stubbornness. Lear was unable to see Kent’s loyalty when Kent tried to point out that Lear was making a mistake by banishing Cordelia. Lear was stubborn to see that Kent was just trying to do good for him. At Lear’s last moment before his death he realizes that Kent was a good man. “He’s a good fellow, I can tell you that. He’ll strike quickly too” (Act 5, Sc 3, ln 284-285, pg. 317) Lear caused his own blindness mostly because of his pride and stubbornness. Unlike Lear Gloucester was tricked and deceived by his bastard son Edmound. Edmound plotted out his success to become ruler he deceived his own father by making him believe that Edgar was going to kill him. After being tortured near the end of the play Gloucester realizes that Edgar was innocent and that Edmound was to blame. He then regained sight on his situation when he finally meets Edgar. The causes of blindness were different between Lear and Gloucester. Their blindness had many effects on them and characters around them. Most of the effects were the same because their situation is almost identical. The effects of blindness made Lear go mad. By not seeing Goneril and Regan true plans Lear failed to realize that he banished his ...