Comparing Lear and Gloucester in Shakespeares King Lear Essay

In Shakespeares classic tragedy, magnate Lear, there are several characters who do not represent the reality of their situation. cardinal such characters are Lear and Gloucester. Both characters exhibit a blindness to the world around them. Lear does not see clearly the truth of his daughters mentions, while Gloucester is also blind by Edmonds treachery. This harm to see reality leads to Lears intellectual blindness, which is his insanity, and Gloucesters physical blindness that leads to his trusting tendencies. Each character achieves inner awareness at the end as their surreal blindness is lifted and they realize the truth. Both Lear and Gloucester are characters used by Shakespeare to show the relevance of having a clear vision in life.Lears vision is marred by lack of direction in life, poor foresight and his inability to predict the consequences of his actions. He cannot vista far enough into the future to see the consequences of his actions. This, in addition to his lack of insight into other people, condemns his relationship with his most beloved daughter, Cordelia. When Lear asks his daughters, who loves him most, he already thinks that Cordelia has the most love for him. However, when Cordelia says I love your stateliness according to my bond, no more nor less. (I, i, 94-95) Lear cannot see what these words really mean. Goneril and Regan are only putting on an act. They do not truly love Lear as much as they should. When Cordelia says these words, she has seen her sisters facade, and she does not want to associate her true love with their false love. Lear, however, is fooled by Goneril and Regan into thinking that they love him, while Cordelia does not. This is when Lear first shows a star sign of becoming blind to those around him. He snaps and disowns herLet be so Thy truth then be thy dowerFor, by the sacred radiance of the sun,The mysteries of Hecate and the nighttimeBy all the operation of the orbsFrom whom we do exist and cease to beHere I disclaim all my paternal care,Propinquity and property of blood,And as a stranger to my heart and meHold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian,Or he that makes his generation messesTo gorge his appetite, shall to my bosomBe as well neighboured, pitied, and relieved,As cat valium may sometime daughter. (I, i, 110-123)Not only does he disown her, but he also banishes her fro... ...not truly be seen with the warmheartedness, but with the heart. The physical world that the eye can detect can accordingly hide its evils with physical attributes, and thus clear vision cannot result from the eye alone. Lears downfall was a result of his failure to comprehend that appearances do not always represent reality. Gloucester avoided a similar demise by learning the relationship between appearance and reality. If Lear had learned to look with more than just his eyes before the end, he might have avoided this tragedy. These two tragic stories unfolding at the same time gave the play a great eminence.Work CitedShakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Tragedy of King Lear. New York Washington Square, 1993. Print.Works ConsultedBradley, A.C. King Lear. Shakespearian Tragedy. Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. Macmillan and Co., London, 1919. Project Gutenberg. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. Bengtsson, Frederick. King Lear by William Shakespeare. Columbia College. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.Blind. The New Oxford American Dictionary. 3rd ed. 2011. Print..