Gloucester’s “Fall”—Lily Caswell

So Shakespeare has always had a way with words and in King Lear, Edgar is no different. In Act 4, Scene 6, Edgar somehow convinces Gloucester that they are on the Cliffs of Dover, when in fact they are on some fields near there. Edgar says “‘Come on, sir; here’s the place: stand still. How fearful / And dizzy ‘tis to cast one’s eyes so low!… Give me your hand: you are now within a foot ‘ Of th’ extreme verge: for all beneath the moon / Would I not leap upright.’” (4.6, 11-12, 25-27) One way or the other, Edgar uses his words to convince Gloucester that he is on the pinnacle of one of the cliffs and when Gloucester “commits suicide” and Edgar asks him whether he is alive or dead, Gloucester tells him to “‘Away, and let me die’” (line 48). Edgar then describes how Gloucester fell from the “cliffs” and was somehow miraculously unharmed.

Gloucester’s “fall” can be compared with our spiritual despair and God’s gracious rescue. Gloucester’s despair led him to want to commit suicide. Haven’t we all at some point in our lives fallen into despair as well? Maybe not to the point of wanting to commit suicide, but to the point where we just don’t want to do anything? Then somehow, someway, God’s grace revives us and saves us from our despair. 

I commented on Emma Dalgety’s post and Song’s post.

Comments

  1. Raygan BosterAugust 30, 2021 at 4:01 PM

    I love how you compared this to God's rescue. I truly believe that sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can truly be ready to move forward. When you are in that place, as Gloucester was, God scoops you up and urges you to just hold on a little longer, just like Edgar did. Even though Gloucester had to rely completely on Edgar, he still did all he could and expected nothing in return, just as God does for us everyday. There is such a pure love behind that, and I think that is beautiful.

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  2. Taylor ViceAugust 30, 2021 at 9:10 PM

    Gloucester's physical "fall" and our spiritual fall into despair is a great comparison. Gloucester was blinded not only physically, but also by his son, Edmund. He believed Edmund, even though Edmund was the enemy and trying to commit horrifying acts against his father. I believe that we, as humans, are also blinded by what we might see as a "good thing" but is really an enemy in disguise, trying to stray us further away from our relationship with God.

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