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Warning! There’s a pretty graphic eye-plucking scene in King Lear. But Shakespeare didn’t just get rid of Gloucester’s eyes for the drama of the act. In fact, gross as it is, the eye-gouging serves a larger purpose in King Lear. Check out this video for 60 seconds on the symbol of blindness.

Video Transcription:

As if all the swordfights and deaths and suicides in this play aren’t enough, all you gore lovers out there can also look forward to watching as Gloucester’s eyes are plucked out (accompanied by some stomach-turning stage directions.)

Act Three, scene seven. UGH!

For all you faint of heart out there, hear this. At least the eye-plucking isn’t gratuitous. After all, blindness is a key symbol in King Lear.

If you’ve read Sophocles’ play, Oedipus Rex, you have a head start on the meaning of blindness in King Lear. That’s because in this play, like in Oedipus, those who end up blind literally can’t see the truth.

Like dear old Gloucester who allows that bastard (child of his), Edmund, to convince him that his other son, Edgar, is scheming to bring him down. In fact, Edmund’s the one with the evil plan, and poor Edgar is banished, leaving Gloucester at the mercy of the son who wants to do him harm.

Likewise, even though Lear isn’t physically blind, he can’t see what’s right in front of him. Like Gloucester, he thinks his good daughter is bad and that his bad daughters are good. And, blind to the truth, he makes a really, really big mistake and hands off his power to the mean girls.

Ruh-roh.

Interestingly enough, it’s only when Gloucester becomes literally blind and Lear becomes mentally impaired that the two are able to recognize the truth, and to repent. As in Sophocles’ play, wisdom seems to come to those who are willing to see with their hearts, instead of just with their eyes.