Blindness and Sight - Lack of Insight in King Lear :: King Lear essays

mogul Lear The Theme of sightlessness (Lack of Insight) In Shakespeares classic tragedy, King Lear, the issue of sight and its relevance to get in mental imagery is a recurring estimate. Shakespeares principal means of portraying this theme is through the characters of Lear and Gloucester. Although Lear can physiologicly see, he is blind in the sense datum that he lacks insight, understanding, and direction. In contrast, Gloucester becomes corporally blind but gains the type of tidy sum that Lear lacks. It is evident from these two characters that eject mess is not derived solely from physical sight. Lears failure to understand this is the principal cause of his demise, while Gloucester learns to achieve clear vision, and consequently avoids a fate similar to Lears. Throughout most of King Lear, Lears vision is clouded by his lack of insight. Since he cannot see into opposite peoples characters, he can never identify them for who they truly are. When Cordelia angers Lea r, Kent tries to reason with Lear, who is as well as stubborn to remain open-minded. Lear responds to Kents opposition with, Out of my sight, to which Kent responds, See better, Lear, and let me however remain (I.i.160). Here, Lear is saying he never wants to see Kent again, but he could never truly see him for who he is. Kent was only trying to do what was best for Lear, but Lear could not see that. Kents vision is not clouded, as is Lears, and he knows that he can remain near Lear as spacious as he is in disguise. Later, Lears vision is so superficial that the physical garments and simple disguise that Kent wears easily dupe him. Lear cannot see who Kent really is. He only learns of Kents noble and honest character just prior to his death, when his vision is cleared. By this time, however, it is too late for an honest human relationship to be salvaged. Lears vision is also marred by his lack of direction in life, and his hapless foresight, his inability to predict the consequ ences of his actions. He cannot look far enough into the future(a) to see the consequences of his actions. This, in addition to his lack of insight into other people, condemns his relationship with his most beloved daughter, Cordelia. When Lear asks his daughters who loves him most, he already thinks that Cordelia has the most love for him.