Vision & Blindness King Lear: William Shakespear Project by RJ Baise, Alex Sergent, Morgan Thomas and Leah Willis

Theme: Hindsight is 20/20. Often times in life people are blinded in what they believe is right only to later see that their decision has led to a sizable mistake.

“ Sir, I love you more than word can yield the matter; Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty.” (Goneril, Act I. i, 5)

Explanation i Here, Goneril is doting on her father, King Lear, in hopes that she may get power, fortune, and land from him. She says she love him more that sight and space (meaning scope), and is using those words both literally and symbolically. Goneril is asserting that she loves her father more than her ability to see, as though she would trade that for him. But also, in saying space (or scope), Goneril implies that she means she loves him more than being able to understand what is going on around her.

"See better, Lear, and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye." (Kent, Act I. i, 9)

Explanation ii Lear has just told Kent to get out of his sight, and this quote is his response to Lear. Kent is almost pleading to Lear to realize what he is doing and to fix his mistake before it's too late. When he says "let me still remain/ The true blank of thine eye," he is telling Lear to focus on him as he tries to explain that what he is doing is rash and wrong. Kent seems to be one of the few people who has his sense about him in this scene and does well to try to prevent Lear from doing something he will regret later.

"Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes; ..." (Gloucester, Act III, v, 57-58)

Explanation iii This is right amidst the moment of Gloucester getting his eyes plucked out. This entire scene is a literal representation of blindness, and the sudden loss of vision. Throughout the entire play, sight represents emotion, the future, the oblivion, and so much more. But here, it literally represents his sight being taken away.

"O, you are men of stones: had I your tongues and eyes, I’d use them so that heaven's vault should crack." (Lear, Act V. vii, 145)

Explanation iv Lear, blinded by his narcissism, cast out Cordelia. Now that she is dead he sees his mistake and wishes he could break open the heavens with his woes for the daughter he disowned. This marks the end of Lear's journey from blindness to vision. But his vision comes far too late.

" 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. Oh dear son Edgar, The food of thy abused fathers wrath! Might I but live to see thee in my touch, I'd say I had eyes again!" (Gloucester, Act IV. i, 18-23)

Explanation v This quote represents much more than simply what the physical eyes see and the symbolism that plays off of that. When Gloucester talks about how eyes never helped him to not stumble, he could easily be talking about the fact that just because you see it coming, doesn't mean you're prepared for it. What you see isn't always what you get. His explanation in the remaining parts of the quote represent the fact that vision comes with the feelings you have and the feelings your surroundings give. Just because you can't literally see things, doesn't mean you can't see or feel them.

“Does any here know me. This is not Lear. Does Lear walk thus “Does any here know me? This is not Lear. Does Lear walk thus? Speak Thus? Where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, or his discerning are lethargied—Ha! Walking? ’Tis not so. Who is it that can tell me who I am?” (Lear, Act I. iv, 32)

Explanation vi In this quote, it is clear to see that Lear is blinded by his own arrogance. He randomly begins talking about himself in third person after Goneril takes away his knights. Baffled by his sudden lost in power, he is blinded to the fact that he has more power to lose.