The Theme of Blindness in King Lear by William Shakespeare

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The Theme of Blindness in King Lear by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's King Lear tells of the tragedies of two families. At the head of each family is a father who cannot see his children for what they are. Both fathers are lacking in perceptiveness, so the stories of the two families run parallel to each other. In Lear's case, two of his daughters fool him into believing their lies. Lear shuts out his third daughter because she cannot her love into words the way he wants her to. Gloucester, similarly, forbids the son that truly loves him, while putting all his trust into the son who betrays him. Both Lear and Gloucester lack the direction and insight that it takes to see reality, instead they see only physically. Lear does not realize his daughter's true feelings until it is too late. Gloucester must loose his physical sight in order to gain the type of vision that he needs to see his son's betrayal. Shakespeare uses Gloucester's realization of reality and Lear's inability to see with his heart to portray his theme of blindness.

Gloucester illustrates Shakespeare's theme of blindness throughout most of the story. Gloucester's blindness prevents him from seeing the goodness of his son Edgar and the evil of his son Edmund. Edmund shows Gloucester a letter that Edgar has supposedly written plotting against Gloucester. Gloucester is easily convinced that Edgar has written this letter and is plotting to kill him. Gloucester's lack of insight into Edgar allows him to call Edgar a "Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain! Worse than brutish " ( I.ii.80-81 ). These are harsh words for Gloucester to say about his son, but he does not have the ability to see how loyal Edgar is to him, so he calls Edgar ...

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...( IV.vii.98-99 ). Although Lear finds some insight and direction, it comes too late. His blindness takes his life an well as Cordelia's. Lear's inability to see Goneril's and Regan's wickedness causes both Lear and Cordelia to be slain.

In King Lear, Shakespeare's theme of blindness proves that reality cannot be seen with the eye alone. Lear and Gloucester are examples of how lack of insight can lead to a tragic fate. It takes more than physical sight to distinguish between appearance and reality. It takes seeing with your heart and mind, along with your eyes. Both Lear and Gloucester learned this lesson. Lear is an example of what can happen when you learn too late in life how important it is to have insight. If he had learned to see things for what they are sooner, he may have avoided a tragic fate.

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