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

King Lear The Theme of Blindness (Lack of Insight) In Shakespeares classic tragedy, King Lear, the issue of sight and its relevance to clear mountain is a recurring theme. Shakespeares principal means of portraying this theme is by means of the characters of Lear and Gloucester. Although Lear can physically sop up, he is blind in the sense that he lacks insight, understanding, and direction. In contrast, Gloucester becomes physically blind but gains the type of raft that Lear lacks. It is lucid from these two characters that clear vision is not derived solely from physical sight. Lears adversity to understand this is the principal cause of his demise, while Gloucester learns to achieve clear vision, and thence avoids a fate similar to Lears. Throughout approximately of King Lear, Lears vision is clouded by his lack of insight. Since he cannot see into other peoples characters, he can neer identify them for who they truly are. When Cordelia angers Lear, Kent tries to reason with Lear, who is too tenacious to outride open-minded. Lear responds to Kents opposition with, Out of my sight, to which Kent responds, See better, Lear, and let me still 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 whole trying to do what was silk hat 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 long as he is in disguise. Later, Lears vision is so superficial that the physical garments and plain 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 relationship to be salvaged. Lears vision is withal marred by his lack of direction in life, and his poor foresight, his inability to predict the consequences of his actions. He cannot loo k far enough into the future 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.