King+Lear+Themes+or+Ideas

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//King Lear// is the idea of blindness or lack of insight.**
 * One of the major themes which is explored throughout

__Theme of Blindness in King Lear__
Blindness can normally be defined as the inability of the eye to see, but according to Shakespeare, blindness is not a physical quality, but a mental flaw some people possess. Shakespeare’s most dominant theme in his play King Lear is that of blindness. King Lear and Gloucester are prime examples Shakespeare incorporates to portray this theme. Each of these characters blindness was the primary cause of the bad decisions they made; decisions which both of them would eventually come to regret.

The blindest character of all was undoubtedly King Lear. Because of Lear’s high position in society, he was supposed to be able to distinguish the good from the bad; unfortunately, his lack of sight prevented him to do so. Lear’s first act of blindness came at the beginning of the play. First, he was easily deceived by his two eldest daughters’ lies. Secondly he was unable to see the reality of his youngest daughter Cordelia’s true love for him and as a result, banished her from his kingdom with the following words: “for we have no such daughter, nor shall ever see that face of her again. Therefore be gone without our grace, our love, our benison.” Lear also tells Cordelia that “nothing will come of nothing”. His pride prevents him from seeing the truth beneath her words “I love you according to my bond”. Meaning as a daughter should love a father.

Lear’s blindness also caused him to banish one of his loyal followers, Kent. Kent was able to see Cordelia’s true love for her father, and tried to protect her from her blind father’s irrationality. After Kent was banished, he created a disguise for himself and was eventually hired by Lear as a servant. Lear’s inability to determine his servant’s true identity proved once again how blind Lear actually was. As the play progresses, Lear does gains insight but only after experiencing extreme loss and a decent into madness. It is at the height of this madness that Lear truly gains clarity as to how wicked his two eldest daughters really were and the extent of their treachery. More importantly, Lear realises that Cordelia’s lack of flattery at the beginning of the play actually showed her true love for him. Her love for him was so great that she couldn’t express it into words. Unfortunately, Lear’s blindness ended up costing Cordelia her life and consequently his own due to the guilt and grief he feels over her death.

Gloucester was another example of a character who suffered from an awful case of blindness. Gloucester’s blindness denied him the ability to see the loyalty of Edgar and the evil of his bastard son Edmund. Although Edgar was the legitimate and loving son, Gloucester all but disowned him. Gloucester’s blindness began when Edmund convinced him by the means of a forged letter that Edgar was plotting to kill him. Gloucester’s naivety and lack of sight caused him to believe Edmund and prevented him from seeing Edmund’s bitter resentment of his brother. Near the end of the play, Gloucester finally gains insight into the stupidity of his actions but only after having his eyes torn out by the Duke of Cornwall. Gloucester’s famous line: “I stumbled when I saw” is ironic as his inability to see the true nature of his sons occurred when he had his physical sight but was mentally blind. The main purpose of Gloucester’s character is to reinforce this idea of blindness. His character mirrors the rash actions taken by Lear and emphasises the fatal consequences that occur due to blinding yourself from reality.