Blindness In Shakespeare's King Lear
KING LEAR Often how individuals appear in front of other people is different from who they really are. They can show the love and loyalty to their masters so they can get what they really want. In the play King Lear by Shakespeare, the topic of blindness occurs often. The theme of blindness is demonstrated by the biggest mistake that King Lear makes, by the disguise of Kent, and by Gloucester’s trust in Edmund. The biggest mistake of King Lear when he divides his kingdom among his three daughters, but he does not know that his blindness will lead him to be controlled by Goneril and Regan. Lear gets angry on Cordelia. King Lear divides her inheritance among his sisters, gives her to King of France to marry her without dowry, and disowns her.
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She shows him how much she loves him as a daughter and all the words cannot describe that love. His blindness does not let him know that her words are on the point. In the process of Lear’s blindness, Goneril and Regan scheming to take the kingdom from their father have worked. They are showing to Lear their flattery and the fake love by telling him how much they love him more than anyone. The fool tells Lear that they do not care to him as he says: Winter’s not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. Fathers that wear rags Do make their children blind; But fathers that that bear bags Shall see their children kind. Fortune, that arrant whore, Ne’er turns the key to the poor. But for all this, thou shalt have as many dolours for Thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year. (Shakespeare 2.4.46-55)
Kent disagrees on Lear’s decision when he disowns Cordelia. He tells Lear “See better, Lear, and let me still remain / The true blank of thine eye.” (1.1.160-161). He defends for Cordelia and tells him to see well; but instead of that Lear keeps on his mistakes and blindness and banishes Kent. These results lead Lear to leave the castle in grieve after what Goneril and Regan do and shut the door on Lear. The disguise of Kent will assist him to stay with Lear and serve him. Kent remains loyal to Lear despite that he has banished. He says in his soliloquy: If but as well I other accents borrow, That can my speech diffuse, my good intent May carry through itself to that full issue For which I razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent, If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemned, So may it come, thy master, who thou lovest, Shall find thee full of labours. (1.4.1-7)
Kent’s personality shows how much he is loyal and loving to Lear and he is ready to die for him even when Lear orders that Kent has ten days to leave the kingdom or he will die. Kent does not want to remove his disguise. He does not need people to recognize him until he finishes his plans. He says to Cordelia: Pardon, dear madam. Yet to be known shortens my made intent. My boon I make it that you know me not Till time and I think meet.
Kent meets Lear for the last time and removes his disguise. He tells him that that he is Caius, the one who is wandering with him during Lear’s suffering from the beginning. Kent says “That from your first of difference and decay / Have followed your sad steps.” (5.3.288-289)
King Lear dies and Kent decides to follow him by committing suicide.
Gloucester trusts in Edmund, but he does not see that he wants to conquer on his title and make plans to let Gloucester looking for Edgar’s life. Edmund convinces his father that Edgar wants to kill him. Gloucester enrages and says: O villain, villain! His very opinion in the letter Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain! Worse than brutish! Go, sirrah, seek him. I’ll appre- hend him. Abominable villain! Where is he? (1.2.75-78)
This plan will let Edmund to inherit his land and the title Earl of Gloucester. Gloucester has arrested and bring to Cornwall where he gouges his eyes. He has shocked when he asks about his illegitimate son Edmund and Regan tells him that he is Gloucester’s betrayer. Cornwall’s servant gouges the other eye of Gloucester and then he throws outside of the castle. Gloucester is now in despair from his blindness after he does not see Edmund in his reality and his wish is to meet his son Edgar again. Gloucester says: I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw. Full oft ‘tis seen Our means secure us, and our mere defects Prove our commodities. O dear son Edgar, The food of thy abused father’s
wrath; Might I but live to see thee in my touch, I’d say I had eyes again! (4.1.18-24)
Gloucester determines that he must endure the results of his blindness until the God decides that he should die.
She shows him how much she loves him as a daughter and all the words cannot describe that love. His blindness does not let him know that her words are on the point. In the process of Lear’s blindness, Goneril and Regan scheming to take the kingdom from their father have worked. They are showing to Lear their flattery and the fake love by telling him how much they love him more than anyone. The fool tells Lear that they do not care to him as he says: Winter’s not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. Fathers that wear rags Do make their children blind; But fathers that that bear bags Shall see their children kind. Fortune, that arrant whore, Ne’er turns the key to the poor. But for all this, thou shalt have as many dolours for Thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year. (Shakespeare 2.4.46-55)
Kent disagrees on Lear’s decision when he disowns Cordelia. He tells Lear “See better, Lear, and let me still remain / The true blank of thine eye.” (1.1.160-161). He defends for Cordelia and tells him to see well; but instead of that Lear keeps on his mistakes and blindness and banishes Kent. These results lead Lear to leave the castle in grieve after what Goneril and Regan do and shut the door on Lear. The disguise of Kent will assist him to stay with Lear and serve him. Kent remains loyal to Lear despite that he has banished. He says in his soliloquy: If but as well I other accents borrow, That can my speech diffuse, my good intent May carry through itself to that full issue For which I razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent, If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemned, So may it come, thy master, who thou lovest, Shall find thee full of labours. (1.4.1-7)
Kent’s personality shows how much he is loyal and loving to Lear and he is ready to die for him even when Lear orders that Kent has ten days to leave the kingdom or he will die. Kent does not want to remove his disguise. He does not need people to recognize him until he finishes his plans. He says to Cordelia: Pardon, dear madam. Yet to be known shortens my made intent. My boon I make it that you know me not Till time and I think meet.
Kent meets Lear for the last time and removes his disguise. He tells him that that he is Caius, the one who is wandering with him during Lear’s suffering from the beginning. Kent says “That from your first of difference and decay / Have followed your sad steps.” (5.3.288-289)
King Lear dies and Kent decides to follow him by committing suicide.
Gloucester trusts in Edmund, but he does not see that he wants to conquer on his title and make plans to let Gloucester looking for Edgar’s life. Edmund convinces his father that Edgar wants to kill him. Gloucester enrages and says: O villain, villain! His very opinion in the letter Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain! Worse than brutish! Go, sirrah, seek him. I’ll appre- hend him. Abominable villain! Where is he? (1.2.75-78)
This plan will let Edmund to inherit his land and the title Earl of Gloucester. Gloucester has arrested and bring to Cornwall where he gouges his eyes. He has shocked when he asks about his illegitimate son Edmund and Regan tells him that he is Gloucester’s betrayer. Cornwall’s servant gouges the other eye of Gloucester and then he throws outside of the castle. Gloucester is now in despair from his blindness after he does not see Edmund in his reality and his wish is to meet his son Edgar again. Gloucester says: I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw. Full oft ‘tis seen Our means secure us, and our mere defects Prove our commodities. O dear son Edgar, The food of thy abused father’s
wrath; Might I but live to see thee in my touch, I’d say I had eyes again! (4.1.18-24)
Gloucester determines that he must endure the results of his blindness until the God decides that he should die.