King Lear-Regret

Sarah Scheidel
ENGL 2200

I noticed a lot of regret in the assigned reading for this week.  The regret Lear experiences over Cordelia and poor decisions due to the cruelty of Goneril and Regan parallels the same feeling harbored by Gloucester.  In tonight's reading, I really felt bad for Gloucester.  He may have disowned Edgar, but the lies of Edmund are what caused this action.  It is not like Gloucester was completely ridiculous and stupid like Lear.  Lear simply wanted to be flattered, and didn't hear enough from Cordelia; her actions spoke louder than her words.  Edmund and Edgar were both good sons before Edmund began plotting.  Once Edmund framed Edgar, Gloucester disowned the rightful heir.  At least Gloucester had a "reason" for kicking out his son even if it was fabricated.  I was also extremely surprised by the cruelty of Regan and Cornwall's actions.  They gouged out Gloucester's eyes for helping Lear, a former king.  It was during this occurrence that Gloucester was filled with deep regret for what he did to Edgar.  Regan informed Gloucester that Edmund had be the one who ratted him out for helping the French and Lear.  It made me extremely sad when Regan and Cornwall kicked Gloucester out into the storm to "smell his way to Dover".  I was also upset when Edgar didn't reveal his identity to his father, but I was very thankful that the son was present to help his father along the journey.  It was heart-wrenching to imagine Edgar helping his poor, blinded father in the storm.  It seems as if every character has fallen rather far since the beginning of the story.  I'm not sure if I can handle a tragic ending.  It's sad to watch good characters experience hardships.