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King Lear

Contents

Author
Context
Characters
Character Sub Plot
Act 1 Scene 1
Act 1 Scene 2
Act 1 Scene 3
Act 1 Scene 4
Act 1 Scene 5
Act 2 Scene 1
Act 2 Scene 2
Act 2 Scene 3
Act 2 Scene 4
Act 3 Scene 1
Act 3 Scene 2
Act 3 Scene 3
Act 3 Scene 4
Act 3 Scene 5
Act 3 Scene 6
Act 3 Scene 7
Act 4 Scene 1
Act 4 Scene 2
Act 4 Scene 3
Act 4 Scene 4
Act 4 Scene 5
Act 4 Scene 6
Act 4 Scene 7
Act 5 Scene 1
Act 5 Scene 2
Act 5 Scene 3
Themes - Devine Justice
Themes - Vision
Themes - Sibling Rivalry
Character Analysis
Questions  


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THEMES

Vision

A recurring theme throughout the play is the sense of sight, and perception, and the various players’ abilities to judge character.

There are numerous quotations referring to this theme (see questions at end of this Wolfnote), but in the initial scenes we are aware of this symbolism.   We note Lear’s inability to see through his oldest two daughters’ false flattery, and failure to recognize Cordelia’s true affection for him.  Similarly, Gloucester and Edgar fail to recognize Edmund’s villainy. To emphasize this point, Gloucester has his eyes gouged out to be a lasting reminder of his lack of vision.  Lear, we learn, has failed to recognize the plight of his people and only truly sees what their existence is like when he is brought down to their level.

We also note that Lear fails to see the wisdom in the advice given to him initially by Kent, and then later in the play by the Fool.

Gloucester too undergoes a change and views the world and those around him in a truer perspective once he has also suffered.  Edgar uses Gloucester’s lack of sight in order to bring about the regeneration of his father.

The consequences of Lear and Gloucester’s inability to see the world realistically culminate in the deaths of so many towards the end of the play, including them.
 




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