Throughout Shakespeare’s play King Lear, sight never guarantees perception and understanding, while blindness does not assume a lack of vision. King Lear and Gloucester are the two principle characters who display the failure to understand others both physically and morally. Both men have ill understanding of their own children and are fooled by simple disguises and plotted out words. When presented with lies and dishonesty, both Lear and Gloucester fall victim without any persuasion. They are only equipped to see what is on the surface rather than understanding what rests beneath the unseen and murky inside. To Shakespeare, sight is not a physical quality but a mental and moral understanding that reaches beneath what the eye see. In fact, blindness becomes the key to true sight and perspective.
The demise of Lear’s character is caused entirely by his inability to see people both physically and morally. This lack of perception causes him to think irrationally and make false judgments. Although Lear is not physically blind, his eyesight only presents what is on the outside without understanding the personalities and identities of those around him. In the beginning of the play, he asks his three daughters who loves him the most in order to divide their inheritance. However, when he questions his daughters, his comprehension of their answers are greatly skewed by his inability to see through the plotted out words and fake smiles of Goneril and Regan. Goneril pronounces, “I love you more than words can wield the matter” (I, 1, 1208). Her trite words are in utter contrast to Cordelia’s simple and truthful words, “I love your Majesty/According to my bond, no more nor less” (I,I, 1208). These simplistic words are perceived inadequately while the over exaggerated words of Goneril and Regan are placed upon a pedastol. However, Cordelia had seen through the façade of her sisters and was unwilling to masquerade behind words and smiles in order to prove her love to her father. Nonetheless, Lear’s blinded views and perception results in his being fooled by the false words of love, and unmoved by the truth Cordelia speaks, causing him to ban his beloved daughter Cordelia and divide his inheritance upon his unworthy daughters. When Lear disowns Cordelia, he says, “We have no such daughter, nor shall ever see/That face of hers again (I,I, 1211). Ironically, Lear may have been looking at Cordelia’s face before he banished her, but he could not genuinely see her. Moreover, Lear is Shakespeare’s outlet to portray the idea that sight does not guarantee perspective.
Lear’s follower and faithful friend, Kent, depicts even more acutely how naïve and unaware Lear truly is. Kent maintains the ability to understand who the virtuous daughter is while Lear cannot see past the words of his own daughters. Moreover, Kent tries to reason with Lear and his irrationality by insisting that Goneril and Regan are merely wonderful actresses. He insists that,
“In thy best consideration check
This hideous rashness. Answer my life my judgment,
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least,
Nor are those emptyhearted whose low sounds
Reverb no hollowness” (I, i, 1209-1210).
Despite Kent’s best efforts, Lear dismisses his acqusations, responding, “Out of my sight!” (I, i, 1210). In response, Kent begs Lear to “see better” (I, i, 1210). Ironically again. Although Kent is present physically to Lear, the king has no moral insight into the character of his fool. Nonetheless, although Kent is disregarded and sent away, he remains faithful to the King and realizes the opportunity which presents itself by Lear being unable to see past the surface.
After being betrayed by his two daughters Goneril and Regan in the midst of a storm, Lear takes comfort in his new travel companion who is really Kent in disguise. Kent proves his loyalty by comforting and finding shelter for Lear, although the King is unable to see the truth behind the disguise. Lear’s inability to see through the disguise shows how absurd his sight truly is. Not only can he not judge character, but he is persuaded by mere costumes and claims.
Gloucester leads a similarly blinded life as Lear, yet his concludes in an ironically clearer outcome. Gloucester too, is easily persuaded and carries a stronger weight for physical sight than for mental understanding, although he too is thrown off by simple disguises. Gloucester cannot penetrate past the surface of others or occurrences. In one instance, his son Edmund had plotted a way to turn his father against his brother in order to secure him possessions and inheritance. A forged letter and an unlikely story is enough persuasion for Gloucester to be convinced of Edgar’s mistreatments. Immediately, irrationally and unclearly Gloucester determines that his son is a “villain” (I, ii, 1213). He never hesitates to comprehend or question the story, but rather just assumes what is said on the surface must be automatically true. Like Lear, the virtuous child is sent into exile while the conniving child gains inheritance of the kingdom.
Gloucester’s vision is saved when he is blinded. His eyes are literally dug out by Cornwall (Regan’s husband) because of his loyalty to Lear. However, Poor Tom (disguised Edgar) leads him to Lear and saves him from his own suicide. Now that he is blind, Gloucester begins to see the truth behind his evil son Edmund and the virtues of Edgar. In fact, Gloucester states, “I have no way and therefore want no eyes;/ I stumbled when I saw” (IV, I, 1238). Rather than prolonging the pain of betrayal by confronting Edmund, he swallows his pride and desires only for Edgar’s forgiveness. Gloucester is still unaware that Edgar has been near him all along in disguise as Poor Tom.
Once Gloucester and Lear come face to face in Dover, Shakespeare depicts the true meaning of sight and perception through their dialogue with one another. Lear turns to Gloucester still blinded by his eyes, stating, “No eyes in your head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy case, your purse in a light, yet you see how this world goes” (IV, vi, 1244) Gloucester responds, “I see it feelingly” (IV, vi, 1244), meaning that he sees with his heart and his morals rather than with his eyes. Unfortunately, Lear does not comprehend how Gloucester interprets the world without his eyes and therefore fails to grasp Gloucester’s perfect sight.
Shakespeare’s play King Lear, depicts blindness as a lack of perspective rather than a loss of physical sight. Understanding, sight, and perspective is formed through feelings and the heart not what is seen on the surface. Shakespeare seems to claim through his play that sight does not jump to conclusions, it is not irrational and it cannot turn a virtuous child faulty, but instead sight is found from a deeper understanding that cannot be easily persuaded. Gloucester, like Shakespeare, understands that true vision comes from. Sight is not provided from the eyes, but from moral, mental, heart-felt decisions and understanding. Shakespeare uses both Lear and Gloucester to portray the irony of sight and perception and the irrational viewings of the eye.
