The Impact Of The Eye Gouging Scene (Act Iii Sc Vii) In King Lear

In King Lear, Act III Scene VII is one of the most painful scenes in English drama, as the audience witnesses Cornwall gouging out Gloucester's eyes. In the scene prior to this, Edmund betrays Gloucester's trust by informing Cornwall that Gloucester is helping Lear and as a result Cornwall seeks out Gloucester. Edmund is seen as the reason for Gloucester's punishment. This scene highlights the psychological cruelty of the play and contrasts madness and sanity. The reoccurring motif off the storm does not play a direct part in the scene; however, it is still occurring in the background and acts as a parallel to the storm occurring in human beings. This scene is a "Justice scene" as Gloucester is trailed for his betrayal and also, in the audiences mind, punished for his foolishness in banishing Edgar. The traits of certain characters are also portrayed in this scene through their actions and the construction. This scene brings together two of the most important themes in King Lear - betrayal and human folly, and shows the consequences.

The 'eye-gouging' scene in King Lear is a very cruel scene that seems almost farce. It highlights the psychological cruelty in humans and contrasts madness and sanity. Gouging out someone's eyes seems very comical and artificial. This enforces the madness that is occurring throughout the land. Gloucester is the victim of human cruelty and his eyes are removed, he can only scream "O cruel! O you gods!"(3.7.69). This scream of agony and pain helps the audience feel the pain that Gloucester is feeling and gives them an insight into the cruelty and unjust events that are occurring in the land due to the chaos. It is such a shock to the audience that they almost forget about what Gloucester has done to Edgar and allows them to feel sympathy towards Gloucester who has sacrificed his eyes for Lear.

At the end of Act II, a storm breaks out and is symbolic of Lear's madness and the chaos that is occurring at the time. It acts as a reoccurring motif in the play to convey to the audience of the chaos that plagues the land. During this scene, the storm is not directly involved or heard during the scene; however, it is still occurring as the events in the scene are being played. The storm is very violent and demonstrates how harsh and cruel nature can be. It acts as a parallel to the cruelty being shown by humans. There is a storm happening due to nature, but there is also a 'human storm' shown through the actions of Cornwall and Regan.

This scene is viewed as a 'Justice scene' as Gloucester is being trailed for betraying Cornwall and Regan by helping Lear. However, this scene demonstrates arbitrary justice and highlights the cruel nature in humans. Not only is Gloucester being trailed for betraying the Duke, for the audience, he is also being punished for his foolishness in acting irrationally in banishing Edgar and placing his trust in Edmund, which came to be his downfall. Gloucester trust in Edmund is crushed when he pleads for his son but Regan harshly replies: "Thou call'st on him that hates thee."(3.7.88). In this scene, Gloucester is the person on trial, but also the victim of arbitrary justice. Regan acts as the lawyer "To whose hands/ You have sent the lunatic king. Speak."(3.7.44-45) and Cornwall acts as the judge, the jury and the executioner. The consequences to Gloucester's decisions that happen in this scene suggest to the audience what may happen to Lear due to his foolish decision in believing the older sisters acted love while banishing Cordelia for speaking wisdom and the truth.

The servants in this scene show signs of rebellion against their lords, which in turn again re-enforces the chaos. When Cornwall is about to gouge out Gloucester's second eye, a servant opposes him and fights Cornwall and wounds him. This opposition demonstrates the effects of the chaos and Regan comments "A peasant stand up thus?"(3.7.80). This is the beginning of many events where servants stand against their lords and begin to act on their own. This is demonstrated when the other two servants decide to "follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam/ To lead him where he would" (3.7.105-106) and also to "fetch some flax and white eggs/ To apply