In the play King Lear, by William Shakespeare, there are many themes present. The most common and evident theme is that of the loss of personal identity and how it can lead to a better understanding of life. Through the characters of Edgar and Cordelia, who lose all they once had and learn about true love, Gloucester, who is blinded which enables him to see the truth, and King Lear, who loses everything only to come to appreciate the finer things, Shakespeare makes evident the theme of loss of personal identity and the learning experiences it brings along with it. Throughout the course of the play King Lear the characters learn many lessons about life through their loss of personal identity.
             Gloucester, character in King Lear who has similar happenings to Lear, loses his personal identity and learns a number of important lessons. Gloucester takes in Lear after he has been driven away by both his daughters, and left out in the storm to die.
             Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this
             Their leave that I might pity him, they
             House, charged me on pain and perpetual
             Displeasure neither to speak of him,
             It is here that Gloucester is explaining of his loss of power and rights to Regan and Cornwall because he suggested that he might help Lear. Through this loss of personal identity Gloucester learns that the hunger for money and power rules everything. Later on in the play Gloucester has his eyes poked out because he protects Lear and sends him away so his daughters will not torture him. Cornwall says to Gloucester: It was through the loss of his eyes and sight that Gloucester finally had his eyes opened to what was going on around him, and realized the truth about Edgar. "O, my follies! Then Edgar was abused. King gods, forgive me that, and prosper him." (Act III, Scene 7
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