

King Lear Essay

708 words - 3 pages

Bethany Van Pelt ENG 4U1 Mr. Graham October 8, 2014 Woodland Christian High School
Blinded by Evil
When an adult tells a child to do something, they will naturally do it because they have to listen
to their elders and are ignorant to what is right and what is wrong. People are often unintentionally
blinded to wickedness due to their own good nature. In Shakespeare's King Lear, Albany is unable to
see his wife's wickedness because of his love for her, his respect for his elders, and his own innocence.
Albany is blinded to the malicious nature of his wife, Goneril.
The honourable disposition of Albany renders him blind to the wickedness of his wife by his
own innocence. Albany learned that the Duke of Cornwall removed one of Gloucester's eyes, but that
he was killed before he could gouge the other eye of Gloucester. "This shows you are above, / You
justicers, that these our nether crimes / So speedily can venge. But, O poor Gloucster! Lost he his other
eye?" (4.2.82). Albany does not know that Goneril helped in the capturing and torture of Gloucester.
He is justice­oriented and when he learns of Cornwall dying for what he did to Gloucester, Albany is
shocked, but also pleased because he knows that Gloucster did not deserve what he received.
Unaware of the situation until after it happened, Albany does not see that his wife is evil. Albany's
innocence is caused due to his amiability which blinds him to the fact that Goneril is the reason for
Gloucester's downfall.
Albany's love for Goneril clouds his vision to the affection his wife has for Edmund and the affair
they are having. Goneril writes a letter to Edmund and as it is read aloud by Edgar, Albany is unaware
of the letter and what it contains as his wife confesses to Edmund: "Let our reciprocal vows be
remembered. You have many / opportunities to cut him off: if your will not want, time and place will / Be

fruitfully offered"(4.6.97). Albany is oblivious to the deceit of Goneril because he loves her even though
he knows she does have faults. Albany chooses to avoid her great...

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