In King Lear, William Shakespeare presents two similar characters with many vices. Lear is a foolish and gullible king who exhibits many tragic flaws, including moral blindness, vanity, and greed. Additionally, Gloucester is a self-centered man who suffers from moral blindness and lives in his sin of adultery. Both characters lack reason and restraint, but ultimately go through a similar journey of loss to achieve redemption. Through their loss of privilege, alienation, and suffering, Lear and Gloucester are able to recognize all of their vices and take responsibility for them, which ultimately allows them to redeem themselves. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Lear and Gloucester are both men who have lived with status and with that comes many privileges. Recently freed from his role as king, Lear continues to desire status and so wishes for 100 knights, but his wicked daughters reduce his knights to nothing and Lear is forced to flee into the desert. In the wilderness, Lear gets a glimpse of the lives of the poor and begins his journey toward redemption. Lear says: “Poor naked wretches... Oh, I paid too little attention to them! Lear, realizing the horrible conditions the poor live in, admits that he failed to care for the poor as king. He begins to realize his flaws as a king as well as concern for others, thus eliminating his vanity. Likewise, Gloucester is deceived and betrayed by his son Edmund who claims his title as well as his sight. This loss of privilege triggers something inside Gloucester that allows him to see how poorly he treated the poor. Gloucester said: "He has a reason, otherwise he couldn't beg." Last night's storm I saw such a man, which made me think that a man is a worm. My son then came into my mind, and yet my mind was then little friendly with him. Since then, I have heard more. » Gloucester admits that he regrets having called the poor man he saw a worm because he did not recognize his condition, he recognizes his moral blindness and begins to change his outlook on those of the lower classes. Through this loss of status, Lear and Gloucester are able to appreciate the world beyond the privileged world they know and take a step toward redemption. Lear and Gloucester are betrayed in the play by their children, which leads them to become estranged from society. Upon discovering that Goneril and Regan have destroyed Lear's knights, Lear becomes angry in the storm and says: "I am a man who has sinned against more than sinned." » Lear recognizes that he has sinned but also that he has made many mistakes as a parent that made his daughters wicked and thus allowed them to sin more against him. Lear takes responsibility for his role in turning Goneril and Regan into evil spirits, which is supported by his earlier speech in which he says: “But yet you are my flesh, my blood, my daughter; or rather a disease which is in my flesh, which I must call mine. Lear is able to understand his bad behavior, which consequently brings him closer to redemption. Likewise, once Gloucester has his eyes gouged out, he isolates himself at Dover and says: "If I could bear it any longer and not come into conflict with your great wishes without opposition, my tobacco and my part hated by nature should become extinct. If Edgar lives, oh, bless him! Gloucester realizes the wrong of his sin of adultery and recognizes that his sin and lack of restraint, the hated part of nature, should be burned. He also realizes that he didn't treat Edgar right because..