In King Lear by William Shakespeare, there is a clear parallel presented between the characters of King Lear and Gloucester. Both characters are blind in a distinct way throughout the play and it takes a dramatic event to open their eyes to the world around them. It is not until King Lear and Gloucester possess new attributes that they are able to compensate for their disabilities and become further enlightened to their surroundings. In the center of the play is the sub-plot of Gloucester, which can be compared and contrasted with the character of Lear, which effectively enhances the tragedy of King Lear placed before us. Shakespeare, through paralleling Lear and Gloucesters transformations, is trying to portray that agony and pain are necessary to experience truth and love.
Gloucesters starts out metaphorically blind to the events that are surrounding him. From the very beginning of the play, Gloucester is unaware of what is happening while his son Edmund is trying to frame his other son Edgar. Edmund forges a letter implicating that Edgar is plotting to kill Gloucester. He plays devils advocate to Edgar as well, and tells him that Gloucester is upset with him which causes him to flee the castle. Edgar had always been a loving son, but because of Edmunds accusations, Gloucester was quick to judge with his eyes and not with his heart. However, it isnt until Gloucester becomes physically blinded that he is able to see the truth regarding his sons. Gloucester considers himself to have good intentions by helping King Lear escape, but instead his eyes are dug out by Cornwall with the permission of Lears daughter which causes his physical blindness. As soon as Gloucester is physically blinded, he asks for Edmund and is told, Thou callst on him that hates thee. It was he that made the overture of treasons to us; Who is too good to pity thee. (Act 3.7.93). It is in the very moment that Regan tells Gloucester of Edmund, that Gloucester realizes his true blindness to his beloved true son Edgar. Gloucester even goes on to acknowledge to Edgar that even if he had eyes, they would be worthless, I have no way and therefore want no eyes. (Act 4.1, 96). Gloucesters inability to see the genuine character of his sons happened too late and eventually leads to his death. There is some satisfaction in Gloucester at his death though whose heart burst smilingly when Edgar informed his father it was him who had been helping him. (Act 5.3.201). Gloucesters heart appears to be overwhelmed with emotions of joy, guilt, sadness at his death. Still, there is an underlying happiness that his son still cared for him after Gloucester was so quick to abandon Edgar in the beginning.
Only through madness and suffering can ultimately allow Lear to see his mistakes and choices that have been made by him. The parent-child relationship seen in Lear and his children is very similar to Gloucesters, as both are oblivious to their childrens true intentions. When Cordelia refused to project her quiet love for him, Lear banishes her because she will not and then Kent for trying to show him the truth of Cordelias love, which further demonstrates the Kings inability to think reasonably. Kent replies to the banishment: See better, Lear, and let me still remain the true blank of thine eye. (Act 1.1.160). The quote demonstrates Lears rash decision caused by his lack of intuition and blindness, the same predicament Gloucester had. Insanity quickly develops after the King descends from his throne, and enlightens Lear on his mistake which sheds his previous blindness and replaces it with madness. Lears mistakes have already condemned his relationship with Cordelia forever. Before Lear goes mad we see a sense of compassion, How shall our houseless heads and unfed sides, / You looped and windowed raggedness, defend you / From seasons such as these? O I have taen / Too little care of this! (Act 3.4.29-34). This scene in the play is critical for it is the moment before Lear goes mad. Lear shows his sense of compassion and finally some understanding of his identity, realizing his mistakes as a king and losing his blindness. Although it isnt until his actual madness sets in where he can come to a full realization of his actions. In Act 3.4, Lear attempts to rip off his clothing, suggesting that he is mad, but also showing us that he no longer cares about the material value of things. Lears vulnerability shows us the will of him to change, and eventually all his suffering through his madness leads back to Cordelia. Lear wakes up as a different person in the arms of Cordelia and begs forgiveness and has an underlying sense of humanity. Lear discovered the capacity to love and be loved and recognize the most important bond between two people.
Gloucesters response to tragedy parallels King Lears in a sense that they both have self-realization. Similar to Lear, Gloucester finds his humanity in the midst of his tragedy. The physically blind Gloucester is now compassionate and shows compassion towards Edgar, O bless him! (Act 4.6) An indication of regret and guilt by Gloucester is based on his decisions made in his past, which also resembles Lears predicament. Self-awareness is now present in both of the men and a journey for humanity and forgiveness is now possible. Throughout their journey and suffering both Gloucester and Lear come to a better understanding about life and love, and try and rectify their relationships with their good child.
In Act 4.6, the two stories come together when the physically blind Gloucester meets the ever mad Lear in Dover. After Edgar leads Gloucester to Dover, Edgar persuades him that he is at the top of a cliff. Gloucesters sufferings have made him lose faith in the goodness of the gods, As flies to wanton boys, are we to th gods, / They kill us for their sport. (Act 4.1.37). Gloucester is prepared to take his life by throwing himself off a cliff, only to fail and fall two feet. Edgar deceives him and convinces him that he is alive and says, the clearest gods have preserved thee. (Act 4.6.73). Lear enters the scene and it is evidently is mad "fantastically dressed with wild flowers." (Act 4.6.79). Lear appears to be quite a different person from the beginning of the play. He is covered in flowers, seemingly nature like, and has appeared to have gained a new vision. Lears rage is misplaced towards Gloucester because of his inability to understand. Lear believes Gloucester to be mad because Lear doesnt believe A man may see how this world goes with no eyes. (Act 4.6.152). Lear then praises Gloucester telling him that though he has no eyes in your head, nor no money in your purse you see how this world goes. (Act 4.6.147). Gloucester goes on to claim that he is now able to see feelingly, which portrays to us that his vision of the world has changed. (Act 4.6.151). Lear is still in a state of delusion and partial blindness to the truth, and although Gloucester believes he has new vision since his blinding, his attitude about life certainly remains unchanged. In Act 5.3, we see that even if Gloucester is no longer suicidal, he doesnt seem to care much about his life telling Edgar to leave so that a man [Gloucester] may rot here. (Act 5.3.8). This is evidence in that Gloucester isnt fully content and is still caught up in his despair and the consequences of his blinding.
Although highly comparable in many different aspects, the main difference between the characters of Lear and Gloucester is that through suffering Lear is able to appreciate what he comes to know after his madness, Gloucester simply traps himself in his misery. After Lear is reunited with Cordelia, Cordelia recognizes the fact that Lear is child-changed. Lear finally makes the realization of his mistakes and recognizes the fact that he was wrong and ultimately kneels to Cordelia, telling her he is a foolish fond old man. (Act 4.7.60). Lear is now living up to the consequences of his mistreatment towards the daughter who truly loved him, in a sense by swallowing his pride and kneeling to her. He acknowledges that he did Cordelia wrong and will accept death as his punishment telling her, If you have poison for me, I will drink it. (Act 4.7.72). Finally in Act 5.3, Shakespeare shows us the newfound contentment and happiness of Lear when Cordeila and Lear are captured. The parent-child relationship seems to be finally coming together. Lear no longer has a care in the world but the care for Cordelia declaring that they will go to prison and sing like birds I th cage. Lear continues: So well live, / And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh / At guilded butterflies. (Act 5.3.12). Lear is showing that he could be anywhere in the world, but if he is with her, he will be happy. Through all of Lears suffering and his madness, he has emerged a changed man who can accept love and is no longer blinded by arrogance.
Shakespeare essential portrayed the idea that what is seen isnt necessarily what is real; closing ones eyes to external dishonesty may lead to a better perception and understanding of what is beneath the surface. The two plots of King Lear and Gloucester unfolding at the same time give the play a great distinction. As are all Shakespeare plays of tragedy, King Lear doesnt disappoint. Lear, Gloucester, Cordelia, Reagan, Gonreil, and Edmund all die at the end, giving us an understanding that wickedness and deception must be punished according to Shakespeare. The three truly virtuous men left are Edgar, Albany, and Kent. Lear and Gloucester were too late in realizing their inability to see with any thing other than their eyes. Throughout the play, Gloucesters character echoed Lears which gives the audience an experience to see suffering and undergoing change in both characters, putting an emphasis on the theme of the play as a whole letting the play become more eventful and tragic.
Only through a journey of suffering and self-realization can both Gloucester and King Lear realize their mistakes and this parallel between the two characters gives the play great eminence. It wasnt until King Lear suffering was so intense it drove him mad, that he realized he made a mistake by disowning Cordelia and it was not until Gloucester was physically blind did he learn the truth about his two sons. The two characters learn to endure the suffering that has been brought upon them. When Gloucesters attempt at suicide fails, he decides to tolerate his suffering. In Lears madness he goes through agony. Both grow as characters to seek forgiveness and accept their faults as parents. The true children, Edgar and Cordelia, never gave up on their parents, showing a reward for Lear and Gloucester in the end by receiving the love of the children they were so quickly to dismiss. Although both of Gloucester and Lears deaths end in heartbreak and tragedy, we see a realization and forgiveness possible. Had both characters looked with more than their eyes, they may have avoided their tragic deaths.
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