How is the theme of blindness presented in King Lear?
Many of Shakespeare’s plays are tragedies such as ‘King Lear’. King Lear was written by Shakespeare
shortly after the reign of James I. His work was majorly influenced by Queen Elizabeth I since her
numerous accomplishments during her successful reign. Elizabeth had no children and it is this
concept which is explored in the play because without a male heir there were worries of who would
take over the throne. In King Lear, Lear was blind to realise that his daughters were trying to
overthrow him so that they could gain his power and take over the throne. This shows that
Shakespeare presents many different kinds of blindness in the play.
The theme of blindness is strongly featured in ‘King Lear’ since two of the main protagonists, Lear
and Gloucester are both blind to the truth as they both get rid of their loyal children. We would say
that they are metaphorically blind because they were able to see but they were not aware of what
was happening around them. However in the case of Gloucester, Shakespeare soon removes this
idea of metaphorical blindness because we find out that Gloucester has his eyes gouged out,
therefore he becomes physically blind. This is one of the reasons why the theme of blindness is so
ironic. For example:
“I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw”
[Act 4 Scene 1]
Here Gloucester is saying that now that he can no longer use his eyes, he has realised his mistake.
However, it is ironic that Gloucester says this because even when he loses his eye sight, he could not
recognise his own son Edgar when he was disguised as a beggar called ‘Poor Tom’. Perhaps
Shakespeare is trying to show us that everyone will always have flaws because even when
Gloucester comes to terms with what he had done wrong by banishing his son, his bond is so weak
with Edgar that he is unable to recognise him. This could be an example of pathos as the effect
created is sadness and pity. The audience may feel sympathetic towards Gloucester because he is
remorseful about banishing his son Edgar and has to accept this fact even though the audience are
aware that Edgar is with him.
We see a similar sense of blindness in ‘Oedipus Rex’ as the main character Oedipus is metaphorically
blind whereas Tiresias is physically blind. However, at the end of the play we learn that Oedipus
gouges out his own eyes so that he too becomes physically blind. There is dramatic irony in the play
because Oedipus calls Tiresias blind when the audience in fact know that it is Oedipus who is blind,
blind as to knowing the truth. For example:
“Blind as you are in my eyes, and ears, and mind!”
1
Many of Shakespeare’s plays are tragedies such as ‘King Lear’. King Lear was written by Shakespeare
shortly after the reign of James I. His work was majorly influenced by Queen Elizabeth I since her
numerous accomplishments during her successful reign. Elizabeth had no children and it is this
concept which is explored in the play because without a male heir there were worries of who would
take over the throne. In King Lear, Lear was blind to realise that his daughters were trying to
overthrow him so that they could gain his power and take over the throne. This shows that
Shakespeare presents many different kinds of blindness in the play.
The theme of blindness is strongly featured in ‘King Lear’ since two of the main protagonists, Lear
and Gloucester are both blind to the truth as they both get rid of their loyal children. We would say
that they are metaphorically blind because they were able to see but they were not aware of what
was happening around them. However in the case of Gloucester, Shakespeare soon removes this
idea of metaphorical blindness because we find out that Gloucester has his eyes gouged out,
therefore he becomes physically blind. This is one of the reasons why the theme of blindness is so
ironic. For example:
“I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw”
[Act 4 Scene 1]
Here Gloucester is saying that now that he can no longer use his eyes, he has realised his mistake.
However, it is ironic that Gloucester says this because even when he loses his eye sight, he could not
recognise his own son Edgar when he was disguised as a beggar called ‘Poor Tom’. Perhaps
Shakespeare is trying to show us that everyone will always have flaws because even when
Gloucester comes to terms with what he had done wrong by banishing his son, his bond is so weak
with Edgar that he is unable to recognise him. This could be an example of pathos as the effect
created is sadness and pity. The audience may feel sympathetic towards Gloucester because he is
remorseful about banishing his son Edgar and has to accept this fact even though the audience are
aware that Edgar is with him.
We see a similar sense of blindness in ‘Oedipus Rex’ as the main character Oedipus is metaphorically
blind whereas Tiresias is physically blind. However, at the end of the play we learn that Oedipus
gouges out his own eyes so that he too becomes physically blind. There is dramatic irony in the play
because Oedipus calls Tiresias blind when the audience in fact know that it is Oedipus who is blind,
blind as to knowing the truth. For example:
“Blind as you are in my eyes, and ears, and mind!”
1
