Mental blindness can also be explained as refusing to see the truth because of one's personality. In King Lear, written by William Shakespeare, the theme of blindness is clearly displayed in the characters of King Lear and Gloucester. Both characters are blind to the truth because of their gullibility and poor judgment of character. The characters" blindness was the cause of bad decisions that led to disasters. The nature, causes and effects of blindness can be compared between King Lear and Gloucester, as these characters are parallel to each other.
The nature of the blindness in this play is both physical and mental. The mental blindness is seen in both King Lear and Gloucester. These two characters refuse to see the truth about the ones that are loyal to them. King Lear banishes Kent and his daughter Cordelia, the two characters that prove to be the most loyal to him. King Lear refuses to see the fact that Goneril and Regan are unfaithful and puts the control of his kingdom into their hands. Gloucester's mental blindness is seen when he sets out to get his son Edgar's life. Gloucester accepts the story of his illegitimate son Edmund because his is too blind to see Edmund's true personality. Gloucester also displays physical blindness when his eyes are put out because he was accused of treason. Both physical and mental blindness are clearly displayed by King Lear and Gloucester in this play.
The causes of the blindness in King Lear and Gloucester can be placed on both character's gullibility and personality. King Lear and Gloucester are easily fooled by their children. King Lear banishes Cordelia when she gives an honest answer about her love to him. Instead he believes Goneril and Regan's false statements of love for him. King Lear tells Cordelia, "For we have no such daughter, nor shall ever see that face of her again. Therefore be gone without our grace, our love, our benison." (Act I, Scene I, Lines 265-267) His blindness forced him to banish his daughter that truly loved him.
