Blindness In King Lear

Words: 1472

Pages: 6

Open Document

The absence of self-awareness can often be seen as a metaphorical blindness. Throughout the story of King Lear by Shakespeare, the blindness of characters can be easily observed by the audience, yet, as the play progressed, those who were oblivious would later turn out to become conscious of their situation. It is evident that the two fathers, Lear and Gloucester, follow an incredibly similar plot. Moreover, they both encounter a moment of realization that plays a crucial role in the resolution of the play. Although Albany and Edmund did not contribute to the resolution to the same extent as those previously mentioned, it is important to note that their newfound self-consciousness also have an impact on the ending.
One character who is often overlooked when discussing the symbol of blindness is Edmund. Unlike Edgar, Edmund was the …show more content…
The transformed Lear is now more likeable to the audience than before, making it a more resolute ending. With Cordelia’s sincere love for her father and the maturation of Lear, the two are finally reunited at the end on good terms. Similar to Lear, the other subplot introduced by Shakespeare depicts a family in a similar situation. Gloucester’s impaired judgement results in the exiling of the dutiful son, Edgar, due to deception and blindness. As a result, Edgar had to endure the struggles of being cast out by his family like Cordelia. Unlike Lear, Gloucester’s flaw was his gullibility seeing as how he was easily fooled by Edmund. This provided Edmund with an opportunity to create conflict between Edgar and his father. In spite of all of this, Edgar continued to love and care for his father under the disguise of Poor Tom. Ironically, it was only when he was physically blinded that he was able to wake from his state of unconsciousness when Regan discloses that Edmund was the one who betrayed

Essay on King Lear

Reagan Stowell Practice Essay 1 – King Lear Ms LAWSON 22.03.2013 Page 1/2 Analyse how an idea is developed in a text (or texts) you have studied. In Shakespeare’s classic tragedy King Lear, blindness is a recurring theme. It is a dominant theme. The idea of blindness is the inability of the characters to see a person for whom they truly are, being unable to see things as they really are. In other words, blindness is the lack of insight. Shakespeare’s point is that the world cannot be…

Words 951 - Pages 4

Royal Lear Essay examples

Ventrella ENG3U 06/03/2014 Mirroring the Blindness of King Lear and Gloucester Blindness is generally seen as the lack of visual perception due to physiogical or neurological factors. In “King Lear”, Shakespeare portrays different types of blindness using two important characters in his play. Gloucester’s physical blindness forbids him from seeing the good in his loyal son, Edgar and the evil ways of his son Edmund. King Lear’s spiritual blindness triggers him to demonstrate poor judgement by…

Words 1449 - Pages 6

08 Instructor Graded Assignment king lear Essay

Instructor-Graded Assignment in King Lear 2: Sight and perception in King Lear. Analyze the characters' failure to recognize one another, both physically and morally. For example, Gloucester and Lear fail to see their children as evil/virtuous; Lear fails to penetrate Kent's disguise; Gloucester does not recognize his son under various disguises. What does all this mean in the play? What does this motif contribute? The failure to recognize one another is a common motif in the play King Lear, by William Shakespeare…

Words 1394 - Pages 6

Essay about King Lear

English Essay - Sight and BlindnessKing Lear is a play with many recurring themes, ideas and much symbolism throughout it, and I believe the most obvious is the motif 'Sight and Blindness'. It occurs all throughout the play, both metaphorically and physically and is associated with many characters and helps define other themes and ideas. It also helps decipher what I believe to be the “true” meaning behind the play, which is revealing true natures, discovering actual intentions, serving justice,…

Words 514 - Pages 3

Skilled Use Of Literary Devices In Shakespeare's King Lear

meaning of their text and skilled use of literary devices brings richness and clarity. Many literary devices can be used to further analyze King Lear, such as bestial images, foreshadowing and symbolism. Shakespeare uses animal comparisons in King Lear to explain how Lear’s daughters, Regan and Goneril, are worse than beasts in their actions toward their father. Lear ignores the laws of royal hierarchy when he divides his kingdom between his two eldest daughters, who claim to love him most. As a result…

Words 858 - Pages 4

King Lear Essay

Trey Sovie 4/3/15 King Lear is a play written by William Shakespeare at an unknown point between 1604 and 1606. The story is about Lear, the aging king of England who decides to divide his land, money, and power amongst his daughters. Despite two of his daughters’ obvious flattery, he decides to give them his power instead of his youngest daughter, who truly loves him. Gloucester is a supporting character in the play. He has several roles including being a father, friend, adulterer to a bastard son…

Words 379 - Pages 2

Lear: King Lear and Loving Daughter Essay

allows us to see man's decent into chaos, King Lear. Lear is perceived as "a man more sinned against than sinning". The play begins with Lear, an old king ready for retirement, preparing to divide the kingdom among his three daughters. Lear has his daughters compete for their inheritance by judging who can proclaim their love for him in the grandest possible fashion. Cordelia finds that she is unable to show her love with mere words and for this King Lear banishes her. This is very quick tempered…

Words 376 - Pages 2

How Does Shakespeare Explore The Theme Essay

How does Shakespeare explore the theme of responsibility through the characters of Lear and Gloucester in Act One, Scenes 1-3? The play King Lear, written by Shakespeare was first printed around 1603 and its first known performance in 1607. It was the first attribution to Shakespeare and was a 1608 publication in quarto of uncertain provenance. The Tragedy of King Lear, a more theatrical version was included in the 1623 First Folio. Shakespeare explores many themes throughout this play but one of…

Words 1856 - Pages 8

Importance Of Metaphors In King Lear

In King Lear, there are many metaphorical comparisons which are used to highlight the central theme of the play- recognition. The presence of physically and mentally blind characters throughout the play is used as an ironic way to emphasize the importance of correctly recognizing a situation. Throughout this piece, the main characters used to portray the theme are King Lear and Gloucester. Both men are characterized as wealthy and powerful people who are seen to gradually become blinded by different…

Words 699 - Pages 3

Essay Gloucester and Lear's Realizations of the Importances in Life

Shakespeare’s King Lear, Gloucester and Lear both experience similar situations in which their children cause them to suffer greatly: The former suffers from blindness and the latter slips from reality into a state of madness. It is not until Act 4, scene 6 that they come to the realization of the importances in life; such as true love for and from a child. Gloucester is convinced by his illegitimate son Edmund that his legitimate son Edgar cannot be trusted, resulting in the banishment of Edgar. King Lear…

Words 1144 - Pages 5