Why is gloucester blinded in king lear

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Then, suddenly realizing his position, Gloucester adds, "or rather do thy pleasure" 4. After a lifetime of being in command, Gloucester finally has to learn how to say "please. This transformation is necessary, because the Gloucester we meet at the beginning of the play is self-satisfied and a little hypocritical. Gloucester's weakness is women, and one of his extramarital affairs produced Edmund. Some people, including Edgar, argue that Gloucester getting blinded is payback for the sin of adultery.

It's also noteworthy that Gloucester talks dirty about Edmund's mother right in front of his son —proving that he is insensitive at best. Then Gloucester goes on to believe Edmund's story about Edgar betraying him.

He doesn't even try to speak with his other son before he assumes that what Edmund says is true. Whatever happened to faith? Finally, Gloucester seems to recognize neither Kent who was his colleague nor his own son, Edgar, when those men are in disguise.

The icing on the cake is that Gloucester is a jerk to the homeless man that is really his long-suffering son. Obviously, Gloucester pays way too much attention to outer appearance and social position, and that blinds him from seeing what really matters. The full impact of this scene cannot be felt in a reading of the play text. The brutality of Gloucester's blinding must be seen and heard on stage for the audience to fully appreciate the evil being manifested by Cornwall and Regan.

Both Goneril and Regan are especially cruel and bloodthirsty, as they call for Gloucester's punishment: "Hang him instantly. Having heard these two vultures call out for his father's blood, Edmund must have understood how harsh a punishment Gloucester is about to endure. And yet, Edmund willingly and easily leaves on his errand. This scene illustrates Edmund's wickedness; he must appreciate the true measure of Cornwall's evil and his father's vulnerability in the face of Cornwall's anger.

Cornwall's villainy in this scene is not unexpected. His anger earlier in Act III builds to the brink of losing control; in this scene, the audience sees Regan's husband refusing any attempts at civility. He has become the beast that is lurking just beneath the veneer of civilization.

Cornwall appears to recognize that he lacks the authority to put Gloucester to death:. Though well we may not pass upon his life Without the form of justice, yet our power Shall do a court'sy to our wrath, which men May blame but not control. Still, Cornwall argues that he is provoked and must gratify his wrath.

When Gloucester is brought to him, Cornwall makes no attempt to control himself. Although Gloucester reminds Cornwall that they are guests in his home, neither Cornwall nor Regan has any interest in maintaining the rules of hospitality. Regan's plucking of Gloucester's beard reinforces the point that she has no basic respect for age or rank. Gloucester is an earl and an elderly statesman, and Regan's pulling of his beard further rejects the structure of nature, which provides that the older members of a society be revered for their age and wisdom.