Falling into Sight

King Lear is a Shakespearean tragedy about the re-education of a king and his people. In this, as
many of Shakespeare’s plays, appearance does not always correspond to reality. The truth may not always
be immediately apparent. In order to gain sight, several of the characters must first lose it. The journey is
tumultuous from loss of sight to new-found vision, but results in the realization of self and the nature of
life.
At the beginning of the play, King Lear holds absolute authority over England. He is noble and
respected, and in the highest position. However, he is growing old, and decides that it is time to transfer
ownership of the land to his three daughters. He declares without hesitation, “Know that we have divided
in three our kingdom” (I, i, 39-40), but he is blind to the consequences that apportioning the kingdom will
have on the country. He also fails to see the threat of impending civil war between the Dukes. Shakespeare
uses the division of...