King Lears Blindness Essay -- essays research papers

Although it is never too after-hours to learn, those lessons learned in old age are the most voiceless and the most costly. In his play KING LEAR, Shakespeare illustrates that wisdom does non necessarily drive with age. The mistakes that Lear and Gloucester make leave them vulnerable to disappointment and suffering at a time in their lives when devil should be enjoying peace and contentment. Although two Lear and Gloucester achieve wisdom before they die, they pay a dear expenditure for having lived life blindly.Lear and Gloucester both illustrate that wisdom does not always come with age. Lear asks his three daughters to express their love for him in public. Both Goneril and Regan have no problem competing for his love, andwhen it is Cordelia&8217s turn she refuses to compete because she feels, she can&8217t express the way she feels through words. This refusal enrages Lear, hurts his pride, and causes him to make the unreasonable mistake of deprive Cordelia............ .......................for weHave no such daughter, nor shall ever canvasThat face of her again. indeed be goneWithout our grace, our love, our benison.( I, i, ll 261-264 )Because of Lear&8217s high position in society, he is supposed to be able to distinguish the good from the bad unfortunately, his need of sight prevented him to do so. Lear&8217s first act of blindness is his foolish need of displayed affection by his daughters. First, he was easily deceived by his two eldest daughter&8217s lies, then he was unable to see the reality of Cordelia&8217s straightforward love for him, and as a result, banished her from his kingdom. Lear... ...red in brambles and other weeds, now he has been dressed in new clothing. Also, he has awakened with no recollection of how he arrived at where he is now, but he does remember the lessons he has learned. Do not trust the princely serpents Regan and Goneril, and give your excess to thy fellow man so that he does not have to live in poverty an d despair. Unfortunately Lear and Gloucester&8217s lesson was leaden earned, and paid for with blood, including their own.From foolishness to suffering and to learning through there mistakes, both Lear and Gloucester have taken a trip around the Wheel of Fortune. Lear&8217s downfall was a result of his failure to understand that appearance doesnot always represent reality. Gloucester avoided a similar demise by learning the kind between appearance and reality. It is amazing that only through gravid hardships, such as Gloucester having his eyes plucked out, could he and Lear receive true insight. Unfortunately, Gloucester&8217s blindness cost him his eyes and a natural relationship with his son. Lear&8217s blindness ended up costing Cordelia her life and consequently the life of himself.