Beginning of Essay
"In King Lear Shakespeare's subject is illusion, and in Lear himself it is shown as an incurable condition" Discuss King Lear deals with the theme illusion in most of the characters, very few of the characters are true, even those with only good intent. Flattery i ....

Middle of Essay
.... he should be able to distinguish the good from the bad; his lack of sight prevented him to do so. Lear's first act of blindness comes at the beginning of the play. First he was easily deceived by Goneril and Regan's flattery brought on by him saying Which of you shall we say doth love us most, That we our largest bounty may extend (King Lear I.I.51-52) This vast reward he offers in return for the confession of love is bound to induce an exaggerated version of feelings to maximise the reward, as Goneril says Sir, I do love you more than word can wield the Matter, (King Lear I.I.54-55) She then continues with No less than life, with grace, hea ....