Through the Eyes of a King

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Through the Eyes of a King

"Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter, dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty, beyond what can be valued…" In this quote from King Lear, Goneril is proclaiming how much she loves her father, King Lear. The fact that she refers to eyesight as being a priceless thing foreshadows the whole "sight" theme of this play. Throughout King Lear, there are references to characters' sight and perception. The perceptions of King Lear and Gloucester are changing and expanding throughout this whole play.

When Goneril professes her "love" for her father, it is ironic that she says she loves him more than eyesight itself, because Lear is "blind" to the fact that he is being set up by her and her sister, Regan. In act 3, scene 6, Gloucester is literally blinded when Cornwall digs out both of his eyes. Although Lear isn't physically blind, he is unable to see which of his daughters really love him. Lear chooses not to acknowledge the fact that Cordelia really does love him. As the reader, we know that Cordelia truly does love her father. It is obvious because she says to herself in act 1, scene 1, line 86: "…since I am sure my love's more ponderous than my tongue." He is on a power trip and Goneril and Regan simply add fuel to the fire by telling him what he wants to hear.

Therefore, when Cordelia tells him she has no words to explain her love for him he just dismisses her and becomes outraged. Lear is blinded by his arrogance and power and chooses to accept his two daughters who make him feel loved.

In act 4, scene 1, Gloucester's speech (lines 19-25) shows the reader his revelation of how he was blind and now can see how Edmund has betrayed him and that he falsely turned against his son Edgar, even though he is physically blind. Throughout this play, characters' are faced with the dilemma of figuring out if what they are seeing is real or not. The old saying, "seeing is believing" does not apply to the characters in King Lear. Lear begins to go insane while wandering through the woods during the storm. Not only do the rain and the darkness of the forest alter Lear's vision, but also he is unable to "see" who he is or who the people are around him.

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