Terror, obscurity, and the Burkean sublime in Gloucester’s blinding

The Explicator 2026

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Authors: Bilal Tawfiq Hamamra
DOI: 10.1080/00144940.2026.2621714
Cited by: 0
References: 6

Abstract

Gloucester’s blinding in King Lear has long been read as one of Shakespeare’s most disturbing moments, often approached as an instance of theatrical excess or gratuitous cruelty. Yet the scene also...

Fields of Study & Subjects

Shakespeare Adaptation and Literary Criticism Renaissance Literature and Culture Ethics Aesthetics and Art

Publication details

Journal / source
The Explicator
Volume
84
Issue
3
Pages
352–357
Publication date
28 January 2026
Language
EN