King Lear-Context question In this scene we see Gloucester, at his very bleakest, his kind character has been pushed to the very limit of endurance and cannot bear the misery any longer. The extent of his torment is evident by his desire to commit suicide; he wants to be taken to Dover to where the cliff, ‘who’s bending head/looks fearfully in the confined deep..’ This pessimistic view of the world is justified, and …showed first 75 words of 603 total…

…showed last 75 words of 603 total…Dover?’ , as he reverts back to his journey to Dover. Dover itself is a significant place. The repition of it throughout the play, has given the impression that is symbolic. There can be different interpretations of just how. It was the place of meeting for Cordelia and Lear, a place of hope perhaps. Also Dover is a symbol of the southernmost point beyond which you cannot go without jumping off, a precipice into the abyss.