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Childishness, old age, sight and blindness are symbols in "King Lear." They are connected with the psychological setting of the play. They also show another aspect of the Shakespearean style; that is, paradoxes and ironies. Childishness is found in Lears decision of dividing his kingdom and his requirement to continuing to be treated as a king. He wants to dispose of all the burdens of his kingdom concerning political decisions, but at the same time, he insists on having all kings prerogatives.
Another clear example of Lears childishness is exposed when he experts Cordelia from his kingdom because he does not get the answer he wants. As regards subplot, childishness is found un Gloucester. He believes all what his illegitimate son tells him without recording to his experience in life. In both cases, irony is found because childishness is present in adults and maturity in children. Old age is connected with the idea of death Shakespeare had.
Lear is the first who expresses his concept of old age when he divides his kingdom: "while we Unburthened crawl toward death." Lear feels that he is not strong enough to controll his kingdom due to his old age. Kent is another character who expresses a concept of old age. Almost at the end of the play, in the denouement, he is offered to rule Lears kingdom but he says " I have a journey, sir should to go." It can be seen that old age in Shakespearean times is just a step before death. Sight and blindness can not be analysed separately. They form almo's the whole theme of the play. Sigh in blindness and blindness in sight is a true paradox in this play.
Blindness affects Lear and Gloucester differently. While in the case of Lear blindness is used in a metaphorical sense, Gloucester is taken his eyes out by Cornwall. Although Gloucester's blindness implies a physical inability, it can be compare to that of Lears because they are not able to differentiate the good children from the evil ones. Blindness can be defined as the inability of the eye to see but for Shakespeare blindness implies not a physical handicap but a mental flaw.
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Research essay sample on King Lear Childishness Old Age Sight Blindness
