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  • Essay / Blindness and Sight - Nothing and Blindness in King Lear

    Themes of Nothingness and Blindness in King LearMany passages in King Lear, particularly those between the characters Lear, Kent, the Fool, and Cordelia, share all one thing in common. theme. The theme of nothing, as well as that of blindness, resonates throughout the play. In many ways, King Lear is nothing. However, Kent, the Fool, and Cordelia make him more than nothing by serving faithfully, speaking bluntly, and loving unconditionally. The first occurrence of the imagery of nothing takes place between Lear and Cordelia. In this particular scene, Lear asks his three daughters to declare their love for him. When Cordelia is asked to speak, she responds "Nothing, my Lord" (1.1.87). Here, Cordelia recognizes that her other sisters are only playing a role for Lear. Since she truly loves him the most, she can't bring herself to praise him falsely. Instead, she says, “I love Your Majesty according to my bond, neither more nor less” (1.1.92-93). In this short dialogue between Lear and Cordelia, the word "nothing" is spoken four times. What is remarkable is that each time this is said, it implies a different meaning. The purpose of this repetition is to show the audience its importance in the text and to make clear the ideas and images that accompany the word. By answering “nothing” when asked about her love for Lear, Cordelia suggests that there is nothing more to say since her sisters have already said everything there is to say. This particular passage, with its use of the word “nothing,” also takes on its own rhythm from the rest of the text. In a later passage between Lear, Kent, and the Fool, this imagery of “nothing” recurs. In the Fool's first speech, he gives Lear and Kent some of his own wisdom. To this, Kent responds, “It’s nothing, Fool” (1.4.126). The Fool says to Kent “you gave me nothing for that” (1.4.128). The Fool then asks Lear "Can't you do anything, uncle?" (1.4.128) To this, Lear builds: “Why no, my boy; nothing can be made out of nothing” (1.4.130). These “nothings” that recur here all seem to have different meanings as well. Kent tells the Fool that his wisdom is nothing, because it appears at first glance to have no meaning. When Kent tells the Fool this, the Fool tells him that it was just free advice and he was not paid anything for it..