The Theme of Blindness in King Lear Essay examples -- English Literatu

The Theme of Blindness in world power Lear In the tragedy King Lear, the term blindness has an entirely different meaning. It is not a visible flaw, merely the inability of the characters to see a person for whom they truly are. They seat only read what is presented to them on the sur incline. King Lear, Gloucester and capital of New York are ternary prime examples characters who suffered most by having this flaw. Lear was by far the blindest of the three. Because Lear was the King, cardinal would live him to have superb reasoning skills, but his lack of insight unplowed him from making wise choices. This is the flaw that led to his downfall. Lears first big break was letting himself be fooled by Regan and Goneril, and giving them his throne. For they did not love him at all, he could not understand the depth of Cordelias love for him. He banished her from the ground without one thought to what she had said. Lears last words to the only daughter that truly loved him were .. ...for we/ have no such daughter, nor shall we ever see/ that face of hers again. Therefore be gone/ without our grace, our love, our benison. (Shakespeare 1, 1. 262-265) Lears blindness also caused him to banish Kent, one of his most loyal followers. Kent tried to stand up to Lear in Cordelias honor, but Lear would not listen to what Kent was trying to tell him. To Kents opposition This hideous rashness, execute my life, my judgement,/ Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least ( 1,1. 150-151) Lear responded with, Kent on thy life, no more. ( 1, 1, 154) come forward of my sight ( 1, 1. 157) This is a good example of Lears lack of insight. He was being too stubborn to see that Kent was only trying to do what was shell for Lear. later Kent had been banished, he ... ...for Goneril blinded him from the evilness that she possessed. He was blind from the point that Goneril was having an affair with Edmund, and visualizening to have her husband killed. Fortunately Edgar, devis ed a plan to cure Albanys blindness. A letter outlining Gonerils plan, was all that Albany needed to see. After reading the letter Albany came to his senses and confronted Goneril O Goneril,/ You are not charge the dust which the rude wind/ Blows in your face ( 4, 2. 29-31) Unlike Lear and Gloucester, Albany did not suffer from his bout of blindness, he lived to become the leader of which was erst Lears kingdom. In King Lear, blindness is a theme portrayed by the main characters of these plots. Throughout the play Shakespeare is saying that the world cannot be seen with eye only. It is a combination of mind, emotion and heart. True sight comes from within.