Although he seems reasonable and loving, Gloucester is at first irrationally biased toward Edmund. Similarly, Lear makes the illogical decision to divide his kingdom, which eventually leads to his own madness and death. These two characters symbolize the foolishness present in everyone when we become blind to the truth around us, a state of mind that may lead to severe consequences and broken relationships. Only after Gloucester and Lear suffer physical and mental traumas do they realize the fault of their previous ways, but they perceive their errors after the impact of their actions has settled in, a time too late to correct the effects of their actions on themselves and their loved ones.
Gloucester’s physical blindness and Lear’s mental blindness in madness enable them to become the reviewer of their own actions. When trapped within themselves and forced to reflect on what they have done wrong, these two characters come to a realization of who actually loves them and who had been merely putting on a display to appease them. And through their epiphanies, Shakespeare emphasizes the power of our own minds and how we can filter the truth out from the myriad of false promises and deceits present in our environments. Although not many of us will have our eyes gouged out or mentally degraded to the point of madness, the consciousness to decipher a beneficial relationship from a harmful one is present in everyone.
Much like Edward Albee’s The Sandbox, where Grandma can only clearly think in the absence of music, Shakespeare illustrates for Gloucester and Lear the clarity of their thinking in the absence of their sight and mind. Through their blindness, Shakespeare warns his audience to be wary of their surroundings and to keep in mind the aspects of life that really matters. Especially during Shakespeare’s era, when revolutionary scientific and intellectual ideas expanded the horizons for new possibilities, this message would have been especially relevant. As London transformed into a bustling metropolis, it promised material benefits and better quality of living, but for many, at the cost of their personal and loving relationships. Even today, as people become blinded from the truth in their search for wealth and elevated socioeconomic status, they may forget about others that truly love them, rather choosing to surround themselves with people only too greedy to take advantage of their prospects. By embodying these vulnerable attitudes in Gloucester and Lear, Shakespeare effectively points out the flaws present in people of all ages – the tendency to blind themselves to materials over affectionate love.
phatdaddycho 