William Shakespeare supports the differing ideals of appearance and reality through the physical traits of the characters and the action of events in his historical tragedy, King Lear. The refusal of Cordelia to articulate her love to her father, King Lear, the physical blindness of Gloucester, and the disguise of a wandering senile beggar for Edgar all embody the differentiation of what is visible to the human eye and the nature of choices the characters commit.
             The historical tragedy begins with King Lear questioning his three daughters to profess their quantity of love to him. The conniving daughters Regan and Goneril use flattery to satisfy their father's insecurity. Cordelia, the daughter which Lear adores, replies that "I cannot heave my heart into my mouth; I love your majesty according to my bond, nor more; nor less." The declaration of the daughter's love for their father reveals that their love can be summarized and will take measures to acquire wealth. Though Cordelia could not profess her love for her father by defined words, she proves to be the truthful daughter although the appearance of words would not complete the confirmation.
             The physical blindness of Gloucester reveals the correlation between his loss of sight and his inability to distinguish the morals of his two sons, Edmund and Edgar. Gloucester loses his eyes by the confrontation with Cornwall and Regan. The time that Gloucester had his eyes, he did not see the betrayal that Edmund was formulating. "Let me beseech your grace not or do so," reveals the underlying nature of Gloucester. Although Gloucester is physically handicapped, it reveals Edgar, the faithful son.
             Edgar adopts the wretched disguise of an insane beggar to maintain his life due to Edmund's deceit. In his disguise as Tom O'Beddlam, he manages to gain the attention of the now powerless King Lear. Edgar, the son who was more loyal to his father, Gloucester, is haunted by jealousy and bet...