e banishes Cordelia from his kingdom. He says, " we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever seeThat face of hers again. ThereforeBegoneWithout our grace, our love, our benison "( I.i.304-308 ).He does not realize that for every action there is a consequence. Lear ignorantly banishes the only daughter that will truly live him. Lear's blindness is also revealed when he banishes one of his loyal followers, Kent. Kent is able to see Cordelia's true love for Lear, so Kent tries to help Lear see her love, but Lear's stubbornness keeps his vision clouded. Kent tells Lear, " Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least, Nor are those empty-hearted whose low soundsReverb no hollowness "( I.i.171-173 ).Kent has seen through Goneril's and Regan's act and knows Cordelia is the only one who truly loves Lear. Lear will not listen to Kent when he tries to tell him of Cordelia's love. Lear pays no attention to what Kent is saying, he merely tells Kent, " Out of my sight " ( I.i.179 ). Lear banishes Kent, the only person who can tell him the truth. Through pain and suffering, Lear begins to find some insight and direction. Lear realizes how wicked Goneril and Regan are when they allow him to suffer outside through a horrendous storm. Lear shows his newfound insight when he imagines that Goneril and Regan are on trial. During this imaginary trial Lear says about Goneril and Regan, " Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts " ( III.vi.81-82 ). Lear knows that his two daughters do not love him. He has gained enough insight to see through to their hearts. More importantly, Lear sees through Cordelia's unwillingness to proclaim her love for him and realizes how much she cares for him. He asks Cordelia to " forget and forgive " ( IV.vii.98 ). Lear finally confesses that he has had no insight when he says " I am old and foolish " ( IV.vii.98-99 ). Although Lear finds some insight and direction, it comes too late. His bl...
