Blind as a Bat: "King Lear" - William Shakespeare

There are many recurring images of blindness or impaired vision in William Shakespeare's King Lear. The predominant images concern those characters in the play that cannot see, however in examining those who are blind we must also examine those who have the clarity and wisdom to see properly.
Gloucester and Lear are the characters most gravely afflicted by blindness. It begins as a metaphorical blindness, or lack of wisdom and insight. Not only do these characters not understand, know, or really 'see' those around them, but also they barely know or understand themselves. …