King Lear Earl of Gloucester The presence of the Earl of Gloucester in King Lear helps the audience to better understand the behavior of Lear because Gloucester becomes Lear’s source of sight to reality. This is so, because Gloucester learned the relationship between reality and appearances, which Lear has a problem of learning throughout the play. Also, the issue of sight and its relevance to clear vision is a recurring theme. Shakespeare's principal means of portraying this theme is through the characters of Lear and Gloucester. Although Lear can physically see, he is blind in the sense that he lacks insight, understanding, and direc