1_Blindness

1_Blindness

1. Lear's inability to see

   • Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter, dearer than eyesight - Goneril
     • Pluck out his eyes
       • upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot
         • One side will mock another. Th'other too!
           • Out, vile jelly!
             • Turn out that eyeless villain
   • Peace Kent.....and avoid my sight
     • See better Lear and let me still remain the true blank of thine eye
       • Out of my sight!
       • Thou hast her France.....nor shall ever see that face of hers again

2. Lear's growing awareness

   • Doth any here know me?.....Doth Lear walk thus? Speak thus? Where are his eyes?
     • Outside in the storm; realising he's become a man he doesn't recognise
       • The fool
         • Fathers that wear rags do make their children blind
           • All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men
       • I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squinty at me? No, do thou worst, blind cupid
         • What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes with no eyes.
         • Get thee glass eyes ... seem to see thou dost not
           • Howl, howl, howl!... Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so that Heaven's vault should crack. She's gone forever!
   • Old fond eyes, beweep this cause again, I'll pluck ye out

3. Gloucester

   • O villain, villain! .... abhorred villain! Unnatural,detested,brutish villain
     • I have no way and therefore want no eyes, I stumbled when I saw
       • O dear son Edgar.....might I live to see thee in my touch, I'd say I had eyes again
         • 'Tis the time;s plague when madmen lead the blind