The Tragic Consequence of Blindness in King Lear - 770 Words

Samuel Butler, an English novelist, said, â€Å"A blind man knows he cannot see, and is glad to be led, though it be by a dog; but he that is blind in his understanding, which is the worst blindness of all, believes he sees as the best, and scorns a guide. Blindness is a major theme that recurs throughout Shakespeare’s play, King Lear. Samuel Butler’s quote can be used to describe King Lear, who suffers, not from a lack of physical sight, but from a lack of insight and understanding. Blindness is a factor in his poor judgment. It plays a major role in the bad decisions he makes. It leads to harsh treatment of those closest to him. It is the combination of these consequences of Lear’s failed sight that demonstrate how blindness is a major†¦show more content†¦In the end, the consequences of Lear’s blindness are severe leading to his madness and subsequently, his downfall. His inability to see things as they truly are cost him his kingdom, t he lives of his three daughters, the life of his most loyal follower, Kent, and his own life. As a result of poor judgment, bad decisions and poor treatment of others caused by his lack of insight and understanding, Lear’s life set out on its course of tragicShow MoreRelatedSight and Blindness in King Lear1615 Words   |  7 PagesSight and Blindness in King Lear In King Lear, the recurring images of sight and blindness associated with the characters of Lear and Gloucester illustrate the theme of self-knowledge and consciousness that exist in the play. These classic tropes are inverted in King Lear, producing a situation in which those with healthy eyes are ignorant of what is going on around them, and those without vision appear to see the clearest. 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