Gloucester's realization "I stumbled when I saw," exemplifies the conflict between reality and appearances within William Shakespeare's King Lear. These two contrasting themes are demonstrated through Shakespeare's clever placement of themes in character portrayal and plot, and are used to suggest to the audience that the consequences of confusing the two can be extremely disastrous, but can also create a means for the redemption of oneself, allowing the person to no longer confuse two.Shakespeare conveys his ideas about appearances and reality and the consequences that confusing the two can impose, through the symbolism of blindness and true sight, as shown by Gloucester. The Earl of Gloucester is shocked by Lear's decision to get rid of Cordelia and thinks he is foolish to ignore the only daughter who truly loves him. Gloucester does not see that he is essentially doing the same thing as Lear, allowing his illegitimate son, Edmund, to make it appear that his other son, Edgar, is plotting against him. Gloucester is so blind to Edmund's plan that he even refers to him as a "loyal and natural boy", further promising to "find the means to make you capable". What Gloucester doesn't understand is that Edmund's ultimate wish is to gain the title of earl, and his plan to ensure that happens involves not just setting Edgar up, but ultimately freeing Gloucester. The extreme consequences of confusing appearance with reality become apparent when Gloucester's eyes are gouged out by Cornwall and Regan. Gloucester only gains true insight into the mistake he made in ignoring Edgar when he is literally blinded, describing his situation as "utterly dark and disheartening." or... middle of the paper... they were good, my lord, I dare swear they were yours. / But in that regard, I'd like to think it wasn't. The ironic response to Gloucester's question allows Edmund to appear loyal to both his father and his brother, not wanting to create conflict between the two, but also wanting to remain, or appear, sincere towards Gloucester through these changes in linguistic style. the audience is able to clearly distinguish the difference between Edmund's deceptive appearance and the reality of his cruel and selfish nature. This allows them to dislike him, but also understand his reasons for such betrayal. The range of linguistic techniques adopted by. To convey his ideas on the conflict between reality and appearance, Shakespeare allows the audience to relate to some aspects of the theme and reminds them that appearances are not always what they may seem.