King Lear Blindness

Lear begins the play by having no moral vision and blinded is greatly by his ego. His decision to divide and give away his kingdom was hastily made and foolish. He does not realise until several scenes later that Goneril and Regan will refuse to pay for his expensive lifestyle and parties.
Lear values how people flatter him and the fantasy they tell him rather than the truth or reality people really feel. This is shown when he says “which of you shall we say doth love us most?” (I.i.49). Where if he wanted to know who really loved him most he would’ve said something different, such as “Which of you doth love me most”. Lear’s blindness leads him to believe what others tell him even when it is untrue. He will only see the surface, as that people will often tell him what he wants to here despite their other intentions. Lear believes that Goneril and Regan admire him and he gives away his kingdom to continue a life of luxury, not …show more content…
He doesn’t see that Cordelia really loves him, not because he is being stubborn and ignoring her true feelings but because he cant see her feelings himself and doesn’t know any different. “How cruel can a father be, after all, not to recognise the loyalty and love of his only good daughter?” - Transactive Teaching: Cordelia's Death - Norman N. Holland.
Kent interjects when Lear banishes Cordelia and attempts to reason with him, as he is a trusted servant of his. Lear tells Kent that he must leave the kingdom in six days. Kent explains that the King is acting irrationally and isn’t thinking clearly because of his emotions. Kent offers to help Lear with his emotions and advise him to stay when he is enraged. Kent says “See better, Lear, and let me still remain/ The true blank of thine eye.” (I.i.160-161). Lear then banishes Kent for defending Cordelia and tells him that he is senseless for listening to his other daughters and not