Blindness is a whole different thing than not having the ability for the eye to see an object, according to Shakespeare. It is not a physical quality but a mental flaw that some people possess. This fault in characters exacerbates their ability to understand and it also leads them in the wrong direction. In King Lear written by William Shakespeare, the characters of Gloucester and Lear are victims of this blemish. Although Lear can physically see, he is blind in the sense that he lacks direction, insight and understanding. However, Gloucester becomes physically blind but gains the ability of discernment that Lear does not have. It is evident from these two characters that true vision is not derived solely from having physical sight. Lear's downfall is primarily based on this principle, while Gloucester learns that true sight is only achieved by experience, and by this, he escapes a fate parallel to Lear's.
             All through most of the play, Lear's vision is clouded by his lack of insight. Lear is unable to distinguish characters from their true self due to the fact that he cannot see into other people's character. During the scene where Lear is enraged at Cordelia, Kent tries to reason with him saying that Goneril and Regan are fakes. Lear, unaware of this, yells in opposition to Kent "Out of my sight"(Shakespeare 1.1.156). Kent responds, "See better, Lear"(1.1.157). Here, Kent, one of Lear's followers, is the first person to directly tell the King that he has made mistakes concerning the partition of his sovereignty. Unlike Lear who shows blindness in judgement, Kent is able to see through the superficiality of the elder daughters' confessions of love. He believes that Cordelia is wronged when she receives nothing and is exiled due to her honesty. Lear tells Kent he never wants to see him again and displays a great extent of outrage voicing, "Come not between the dragon and his wrath"(1.1.121). Kent being the appointed...