KING LEAR
BLINDNESS AND SIGHT
King Lear and sight
 Lear begins the play as a man who has always made
wise decisions. When he decides to divide his
kingdom however, it is his first betrayal his ‘old fond
eyes’, which have always previously allowed him to
see reality and make appropriate decisions.
 Lear’s level of blindness increases throughout the
play, until he goes completely mad and is then able
to truly see the truth of what has occurred.
Lear’s initial blindness
 ‘dearer than eyesight’ (A1,S1,57).
 ‘hence and avoid my sight!’ (A1,S1,125)
 ‘Out of my sight!’ (A1,S1,158)
 ‘still remain the true blank of thine eye’ (A1,S1,159-
160).
Lear’s blindness continues...
 ‘O reason not the need! Our basest beggars are in the
poorest thing superfluous.’ (A2,S4,261-262)
 ‘False justifier, why hast thou let her ‘scape?’
(A3,S6,55)
Lear regains his sight
 ‘A man may see how this world goes with no eyes.
Look with thine ears’ (A4, S6, 151-152)
Gloucester and sight
 Gloucester is fooled by his jealous and malicious son
Edmund, that his other son Edgar is plotting to take
over his place as Earl of Gloucester. Gloucester fails
to see the truth that Edgar is, in fact, loyal, and
disowns him.
 Gloucester later has his eyes pulled out by Cornwall
for treason. When Gloucester is physically blinded he
is able to see the truth and the reality of his situation.
Gloucester’s folly
 “O my follies! Then Edgar was abused. Kind gods,
forgive me that, and prosper him.” (A3,S7,93-94)
Gloucester’s realisation
 “I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; I
stumbled when I saw.” (A4,S1,18-19).
Sound advice
 “A man may see how this world goes with no eyes.
Look with thine ears.” (A4,S6,151-152).