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  • Essay / Answers to Questions on Analysis of Shakespeare's King Lear

    Question 1: The revival of Gloucester's sight is described by the phrase "I stumbled when I saw." I saw that this line could be interpreted in two ways. First, it means that when he could still physically see, he had gone down the wrong path. Gloucester made repeated mistakes when he had sight, trusting and assuming far too quickly. It was then that his eyes were literally gouged out of the Duke of Cornwall, that the truth finally surfaced. This famous phrase explains that when he was not yet blind, he constantly came across the lies and disguises of Edmund and Edgar. Alternatively, "I stumbled when I saw" could also reflect the way he mentally sees which has always been in the truth, but it took him being paralyzed in his vision to see where he must now "stumble" to survive. In both interpretations, the same message is that Gloucester no longer desires sight, because he can see more clearly without them. The confidence his sight once gave him only deceived his belief in reality. This whole event completely changes Gloucester's morality. His vision is enhanced by his mind rather than his eyes. In line 19 it is evident that he is in full remorse: "I have no means and therefore I want no eyes" shows that Gloucester accepts his faults and, instead of complaining, becomes more recognizable in others. Gloucester says, “May I live to see you in my touch, I would say I have my eyes again!” » Because Gloucester discovers that Edgar was innocent all along, this line shows how truly sorry he is now and how seeing Edgar for one more moment would be like having a vision. Nothing else in the world matters to Gloucester. The change in personality manifests itself when he believes he is in the middle of a paper... an ungrudging image. Lear compares his scene to the setting of the afterlife, heaven and hell. He believes he is in hell, where everything in his life has burned in flames; However, Cordelia is there for balance. Even though Lear hallucinates believing that he is dead and is now living in hell, he is confused by Cordelia's presence comparing her to a misplaced angel. When Cordelia asks him how he feels, he replies: “You are a spirit, I know: when did you die? " having the certainty that the only absolute way he could see Cordelia again would be in another life. Seeing Cordelia, his only caring daughter, he thinks that such happiness could never be achieved if he had not died. In a way, Shakespeare uses the fires of hell and the bliss of Cordelia's soul to highlight and examine the impact of one on the other..