The text examines the themes of blindness and insight, particularly through the use of verbal and dramatic irony in the interactions between characters such as Cornwall, Gloucester, and Lear.
Cordelia does have more insight than Lear, but she too Cordelia is partially blind to Goneril and Regan. When Cordelia is ordered by Edmund to be taken to prison, she asks to see her sisters when she says, “shall we not see these daughters and sisters?” (5.3.9). She knows that they were faking their love to Lear, but she doesn’t realize that they are evil and in fact, want Lear dead. Cordelia is blind to her sisters' true personalities and think they might help her from the imprisonment when in reality they do not care.
There are only 2 characters that maintain insight throughout the entire play. Cordelia and Kent. Cordelia is able to see the viciousness in her sisters when she says “I know what you are; And, like a sister and most loath to call Your faults as they are named”. Kent, on the other hand, is also able to see the Cordelia loves Lear the most and believes that Lear should not judge love based on what someone says. However, Cordelia ends up dying and Kent is supposed to commit suicide. There are very few characters with insight and those that do end up dead.
Blindness to Insight
Gloucester: “O follies, then Edgar was abused” (3.7.95)
-This is an example of situational irony. Gloucester has gone literally blind, but after going blind he experiences the most insight he has had throughout the play. He realizes that Edmund had misrepresented Edgar, without being told by anyone. He is able to put everything together all himself. This is the opposite of when he still had vision where he was too blind to see that Edmund was faking his loyalty and that Edgar was innocent.
Symbolism
Gloucester’s blindness symbolizes both his physical blindness & Lear’s internal blindness
The Realization
Gloucester: “O follies, then Edgar was abused Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!” (3.7.95). Lear: "Ha! Goneril with a white beard? Ha, Regan? They flattered me like a dog and told me I had white hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there. To say “Ay” and “No” to everything that I said “Ay” and “No” to was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter, when the thunder would not peace at my bidding—there I found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go to, they are not men o' their words. They told me I was everything. 'Tis a lie, I am not ague-proof." (4.6.112-120) -Gloucester loses his eyes & Lear goes mad when they realize their blindness
Lear v Gloucester
"Let it be so. Thy truth then be thy dower. For by the sacred radiance of the sun, The mysteries of Hecate and the night, By all the operation of the orbs From whom we do exist and cease to be— Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity, and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee from this forever. The barbarous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom Be as well neighbored, pitied, and relieved As thou my sometime daughter." (1.1.110-121). -likewise, Lear’s eyes did not provide enough insight and caused him to make wrong decisions like disowning Cordelia.
Gloucester lacked insight in general as when he was able to see his way, he made wrong judgments
Gloucester v Lear's daughters
“Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister in his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. The sea, with such a storm as his bare head in hell-black night endured, would have buoyed up, and quenched the stelled fires. Yet poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain. If wolves had at thy gate howled that stern time, thou shouldst have said, “Good porter, turn the key,” All cruels else subscribed. But I shall see the winged vengeance overtake such children.” (3.7.54-64) -An example of Gloucester's insight versus Regan's blindness. Gloucester is able to see that Lear's children have mistreated him despite Lear being caring. He realizes how much suffering he has endured by the way his children have treated him. Regan and Goneril do not see this and carry on.
Weather
It is stormy in this scene, which is a form of pathetic fallacy. Because typically, rain represents darkness and sadness.
Verbal Irony
Cornwall: “See’t shalt thou never.” (3.7.65)
-This is a form of verbal irony. Cornwall says that Gloucester will never see god punish Lear’s daughters. However, what Cornwall really means is that Gloucester will never see again. This expresses the newfound blindness Gloucester has to deal with.
Dramatic Irony
Cornwall: “And what confederacy have you with the traitors Late footed in the kingdom?" (3.7.44)
-Another example of dramatic irony and blindness because Cornwall thinks Gloucester is trying to reinstate the King is a form of treason. However, he is the one trying to stop the true King from being reinstated making him the traitor.
Regan: “So white and such a traitor” (3.7.35)
-This particular quote is an example of dramatic irony but also blindness because she says one thing but the audience knows the opposite to be true. She accuses Gloucester of being a traitor, however, he is trying to help get the King Lear get his power back. Whereas Regan, Lear’s daughter, is too blind to see that she has locked her father out in the storm and plans on committing treason by assisting Cornwall to tortue Gloucester
Regan may not be blind to her own crimes. Regan may just be following the mindset of her husband Cornwall. Regan is completely aware that she is committing a crime against her father, but she doesn't really see it as treason because she thinks he's a foolish old man who no longer deserves the crown, due to the many rash decisions he made earlier on in the play, such as when Lear says, "Let it be so. Thy truth then be thy dower. For by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate and the night, By all the operation of the orbs From whom we do exist and cease to be—Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity, and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom Be as well neighbored, pitied, and relieved As thou my sometime daughter" (1.1.110-121).
