The Repetition Of Eyes In King Lear

In Shakespeare's, King Lear, the repetition of eyes throughout the play and its significance to clear vision is a repeating theme. Shakespeare's way of portraying this theme is through Lear and Gloucester. Lear can physically see, but he is blind in the sense that he lacks perception, understanding, and direction. In contrast, when Gloucester becomes physically blind he gains the vision that Lear slacks. Lear's failure to understand is the main cause of his death, while Gloucester learns to use his unfortunate disability as an advantage. The primary cause of the bad decisions these characters made in which they eventually came to regret was because of their blindness, which is why the significance of eyes comes to be throughout the play.

When Lear is angered by Cordelia’s remark to him in scene 1, Kent tries to reason with Lear, but he is acting too obstinate to be open-minded. Lear seems to be wrenched and responds to Kent's disagreement with him by yelling, "Out of my sight!," then Kent responds with, "See better, Lear, and let me still remain" (1.1.159-160). Here, Lear is saying he never wants to see Kent again, but he could never truly see Kent for who he was. He was only trying to do what was best for Lear, but Lear could not see that. However, Kent knew that the best way to watch over Lear was to be vigil and in disguise. Later, when Kent is in disguise, Lear is so blinded that the clothes and simple disguise that Kent puts on easily fool him. Lear cannot see who Kent really is, he learns of Kent's noble and zealous character before his death, when he can finally clearly see things as they truly

Gloucester represents this theme by showing pure vision, despite him not having physical eyesight. Before the loss of his eyes, Gloucester's vision was like Lear's in many ways. He could not see what was truly going on all around him. He only saw what was presented upon him. When Edmund shows him the letter that is supposed to be from Edgar, it takes little convincing for Gloucester to believe it is really from Edgar. As soon as Edmund mentions that Edgar could be plotting against him, Gloucester calls him an "Abhorred villain, unnatural, detested, brutish villain" (1.2.81-82). He does not contemplate whether Edgar would do such a thing because he cannot really see how Edgar’s character is truly like. At this time, Gloucester's life is headed down a path similar to Lear's because they both lack insight on what is happening around them. When Gloucester physically looses his eyesight, it is then when his vision clears. He learns to finally see his surroundings clearly by using his heart instead of his eyes. It is obvious that he realizes this when he says, “ I have no way and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw. Full oft 'tis seen, Our means secure us, and our mere defects Prove our commodities. (4.1.17-21) Here he is saying that he has no need for eyes because when he had them, he did not truly see things for how they were but instead as how he