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Recommended: Evaluate the character of King Lear

Throughout time we have seen a struggle between blindness and madness. They are so similar yet so different at the same time. Individuals can be both blind and mad too. In William Shakespeare’s play King Lear we see both King Lear, and Gloucester go through the internal struggle of blindness and madness. King Lear the main character of the plot becomes blinded by the actions witch unfold but, also mad because of them. He was the King of England and looking towards his kin for guidance for whom would become the new ruler of the nation. King Lear only had daughters, three of them to be exact. He favored Cordelia, his youngest daughter. Goneril and Regan his other daughters hated him because of this. So when Lear decided to split the nation up amongst them he asked his daughters how much they loved him. Cordelia was honest and said just as much as she should love him. But, the other sisters lied and said more than anything in the world. Lear then blinded by his own ego and banished the only daughter who loved him. Not only a bad call by saying he was blinded, but to go as far as saying he was mad for his action against his loving daughter. He then gave the heir to Goneril and Regan… He would come to regret that decision. “Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me, I tell you all her wealth. [To France] For you, great king, I would not from your love make such a stray, To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you To avert you’re liking a more worthier way Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed Almost to acknowledge hers.” Lear enraged says this in front of all his guests and the King of France. Evidently Lear was so blinded by what his daughter said that Blinded by pride ultimately caused the downfall to the trage... ... middle of paper ... ...rationally. The madness in turn caused their madness in the end and in turn leads to their downfalls. Blindness and Madness almost goes hand in hand. While blinded individuals can make mad decisions which can greatly affect a plot. While being mad blindness can be the cause for the mad acts. In Lear and in Gloucester’s situations we see it more evident than ever before. Fundamentally, madness and blindness are intertwined. To say someone can’t be mad while making blinded decisions would be unreasonably disproven. Madness and blindness are obviously and extremely evident in King Lear. It is seen not only in the major character roles but, in the minor roles as well. Gloucester and Lear both go through the internal struggle of dealing with blindness and madness. In conclusion we see that the battle couldn’t be won by either of them making this the tragedy it truly is.

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