The reader learns in Act 4 Scene1 that Gloucester wants to commit suicide. “There is a cliff, whose high and bending head looks fearfully in the confined deep. Bring me but to the very brim, of it, and I’ll repair the misery thou dost bear…” (Shakespeare 177). There are many reasons for his desire. It seems the primary reason is the guilt he feels over the hurt he caused Edgar by banishing him. Gloucester chose to believe his deceptive son, Edmund, over his innocent son, Edgar. Gloucester is also scared that Edgar might be dead.
There are other reasons Gloucester wants to kill himself. For instance, Gloucester may be scared because people keep trying to kill him. Regan and Cornwall try to kill him and Oswald tries as well. Gloucester may not want to live in fear any longer. One could also think that Gloucester wants to commit suicide because his life is no longer worth living since his eyes were gauged out. Because he became blind, he may feel he has no reason to live.
Gloucester’s suicide would have been a selfish act. Gloucester seems to be in despair over the course his life has taken, particularly over the choice he made to banish Edgar. Gloucester wants to kill himself to relieve his own guilt. Possibly he believes that expressing such an intention will cause Edgar to feel sympathy toward him and forgive him.
If Gloucester wanted to commit suicide because of the guilt he felt from hurting Edgar, he should have realized that his suicide would hurt Edgar even more. If Gloucester commits suicide, he is adding to his sons’ pain, not relieving it. Gloucester should recognize that Edgar would rather accept his father’s apology than to have to cope with the tragedy of his father’s death.
I completely agree with you, Alison. I think that Gloucester wanted to commit suicide because he felt betrayed and hurt. When you stated that he felt he had no reason to live, it made me think that he should want to live for Edgar. If Gloucester left Edgar behind, he might have missed out on a happy ending with his son. Yes, he could not handle being blind and tortured, but it would mean more to Edgar to see his father be strong.
ReplyDeleteI think Edgar should have admitted to being Gloucester’s son earlier. Gloucester may have felt appreciated knowing that he had the support of his innocent son. If he did, maybe Gloucester would not have wanted to commit suicide in the first place.