Source: http://www.field-of-themes.com/shakespeare/essays/Elear3.htm
The essay entitled Clear Vision in King Lear strongly explains each of the characters blindness and clear-sightedness in King Lear. The essay begins by discussing King Lear’s vision that is blinded by his “lack of insight”, which in turn leads to his death. Though I agree that Lear cannot “identify (people) for who they truly are”, it is not only based on to his inability to “see into other people’s character’s”, it is also due to his arrogance. This is evident at the beginning of the play, since Lear is asking his daughters to tell him how much they love him. I agree with the author when he says that, “Kent was only trying to do what was best for Lear, but Lear could not see that. Kent’s vision is not clouded, as is Lear’s, and he knows that he can remain near Lear as long as he is in disguise.” The author’s insight is correct because Kent is trying to make Lear understand that Cordelia truly loves him unlike Goneril and Regan. Unfortunately, Lear is so conceited that he is blinded from Goneril and Regan’s deceptiveness. Cordelia does not overly flatter Lear, which to Lear appears as an insult and this is because “Lear lacks the insight that Kent has. He only sees what is on the surface, and cannot understand the deeper intentions of the daughter’s speeches.” The author also makes a strong point in saying how Lear has difficulty seeing down the road when making decisions. He supports his claim by explaining how after Lear says, “we/Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see/That face of hers again” and further banishes Cordelia from the castle” he realizes that she is the only daughter he wants to see. The author is right in saying that Lear cannot see the future consequences of his actions because he reacts too emotionally and too narrow-minded. Overall Lear’s blindness is accurately described and well supported.
The author demonstrates the clear distinction between Gloucester’s blindness and Lear’s blindness simply great. He says that, “Lear depicts Shakespeare’s theme of clear vision by demonstrating that physical sight does not guarantee clear sight. Gloucester depicts this theme by demonstrating clear vision, despite the total lack of physical sight.” I strongly agree with this since Lear truly is blind despite having eyes, and Gloucester is able to see with depth perception even though he lacks eyes. Gloucester, as the author says, is similar to Lear in the beginning of the play since despite having eyes he lacks the ability to see the true nature of people. Gloucester like Lear does not see nor fully understand his children. He sees only what’s on the surface and is quite gullible believing in whatever he is told or sees. As the author says, “when Lear shows (Gloucester) the letter that is supposedly from Edgar…Gloucester calls him an Abhorred villain, unnatural, detested, brutish villain.” The author uses a good quotation to reveal that Gloucester has clear vision once he loses his eyes and this is, “I have no way and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw. Full oft ‘tis seen, our means secure us, and our mere defects prove our commodities.” He further supports this quote by saying that, “he has no need for eyes because when he had them, he could not see clearly. He realizes that when he had eyes, he was confident that he could see, while in reality, he could not see until his eyes were removed.” The author’s essay is very well written because he makes bold assertions, gives examples, and then further backs up his claims.
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