Te food of thy abused father’s wrath – Might I but live to see thee in my touch, I’d say I had eyes again! (Gloucester, lines 21−24)
King Lear, directed by David Farr, Royal Shakespeare Company, 2010
The heath
While on the heath, Edgar says that although his situation is bad, he has reached rock bottom and things can only get better. Suddenly, he sees the blinded Gloucester being led towards him by an old man. Edgar is horrified to see his father so dreadfully injured. Edgar, deciding to remain disguised, introduces himself. Gloucester sends the old man away to get some clothes for Poor Tom and says he will ask him to lead him to Dover.
Edgar, tormented to be so close to his injured father and feeling unable to reveal himself, talks gibberish, but he consents to lead Gloucester to Dover – or more specifically, to a high cliff in Dover. Gloucester gives Edgar a purse full of money, saying that he is happy to give it to one who needs it more than he does. Gloucester says when he reaches the cliff he won’t need to be led any farther because he plans to kill himself.
