Who Is Responsible For Gloucester's Downfall

Is Gloucester’s Demise the Result of Him Being His Own Enemy? The Earl of Gloucester on the play King Lear by William Shakespeare is a nobleman in King Lear’s court, the father of two sons who do not belong to the same mother and a character whose fate matches Lear’s as latter’s daughters Goneril and Reagan resemble Gloucester’s son Edmund. Gloucester plays a critical role in the play as he demonstrates the hardships of living during the 17th century and under the Elizabethan chain of being. Nevertheless, Gloucester is responsible for his demise because of his impulsiveness, his foolishness and blindness but also his lack of firmness in his actions. First of all, Gloucester is responsible for his downfall as he is impulsive. Gloucester’s rashness causes his …show more content…
Subsequently, Gloucester’s order advances the plot as it shows how gullible he is; it also initiates the unnecessary conflict he has with his son Edgar. In addition, Gloucester’s demise is caused by his impulsiveness because he acts irrationally with no reason, mental clarity or coherence, these traits allow Edmund to manipulate his father throughout the play. Additionally, Gloucester’s statement sets into motion the theme of poor judgement in King Lear, which is also another attribute leading to Gloucester’s downfall. A second example of Gloucester’s rashness occurs in the first scene of the second act where he and his servants find a bleeding Edmund who purposely cut his hand so that his father would believe that Edgar did it. Gloucester in disbelief exclaims: “Let him fly far. Not in this land shall he remain uncaught [a]nd found—dispatch (2.1.56-58). This order is another example of Gloucester’s impulsiveness as he shows that he would kill his son with no evidence that he wrote the letter or did bloody act. In addition, Gloucester’s order shows that he would go