sight and its relevance to clear vision is a recurring theme.

Shakespeare's principal means of portraying this theme is through the

characters of Lear and Gloucester. Although Lear can physically see,

he is blind in the sense that he lacks insight, understanding, and

direction. In contrast, Gloucester becomes physically blind but gains

the type of vision that Lear lacks. It is evident from these two

characters that clear vision is not derived solely from physical

sight. Lear's failure to understand this is the principal cause of his

demise, while Gloucester learns to achieve clear vision, and

consequently avoids a fate similar to Lear's.

Throughout most of King Lear, Lear's vision is clouded by his

lack of insight. Since he cannot see into other people's characters,

he can never identify them for who they truly are. When Lear is

angered by Cordelia, Kent tries to reason with Lear, who is too

stubborn to remain open-minded. Lear responds to Kent's 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

No eyes in your head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are

Our means secure us, and our mere defects

eye. Throughout this play, Shakespeare is saying that the world cannot

seen her sisters' facade, and she does not want to associate her true

knows that Cordelia is the only daughter who actually loves Lear. He

The winged vengeance overtake such children.

later discovers that Cornwall was killed. Ironically, Gloucester does

was confident that he could see, while in reality, he could not see

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ii153-154 Lear, King Lear, Ironically Gloucester, Gloucester Lear, Cordelia Kent, Lear Kent, IVvi147-151 Lear, Edgar Edgar's, Lear Kent's, Dover Lear, physical sight, eyes gloucester's vision, sight gloucester, eyes gloucester's, lear's vision, gloucester learns, vision cleared, gloucester's vision, king lear, goneril regan, cordelia kent, vision cleared late,
Approximate Word count = 1657
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)