happened he can see where he made his mistake. In the lines to follow Lear comes across Gloucester and recognizes him. This is a big step for Lear because when the play first began he did not recognize Kent and other people who were close to him. In Act 4, Scene 7 Lear recognizes Cordelia, and can see clearly what has happened. He also comes across Kent in Act 5, scene 3, and is able to recognize him for the first time in the play (Friedlander). This all proves he was a different Lear at the time of his death than at the beginning of the play. As a cause of Lears madness he is able to truly see people, unlike before. Gloucester will endure a parallel removal of his old self, so he can see the truth. Throughout the play, Shakespeare ties the story of Lear and Gloucester together; hence as one thing happens to Lear, the same will happen to Gloucester. Gloucesters blindness comes into play when his bastard son Edmund betrays him and goes to the Duke of Cornwall with a letter stating that Gloucester knew of the invasion from France. Gloucester is punished like a traitor and his eyes are removed by Regans feet. Gloucester cries out for his son Edmund to quit this horrid act (Act 3, Scene 7, 86). Regan exposes that Edmund hates his father and that is was he who turned over the letter. Immediately he recognizes that he did Edgar wrong, and that Edgar was innocent. After Gloucester is turned out, he is led to the hovel by two servants. Once he is near he turns away the servants, telling them that if they are caught aiding a proclaimed traitor they will have to answer to Regan also. After being blinded Gloucester says,I have no way, and therefore want no eyes:I stumbled when I saw. Full oft tis seenOur means secure us and our mere defectsProve our commodities. O dear son Edgar, The food of thy abused fathers wrath, Might I but live to see thee in my touch,Id say I had eyes again. (Act 4, Scene 1, 20-26)Gloucester is very moving in this speech a...
