The importance of self-knowledge and forgiveness is strikingly evident in the play King Lear. If we accept that the two characters who lack self-knowledge the most are Lear and Gloucester, we can examine how the importance of this quality to them is shown in the play. While these two characters lack self-knowledge, the world around them is rapidly deteriorating. Due to their lack of insight, evil is given the opportunity to reproduce and take over, and Lear and Gloucester are forced to suffer as "love grows cold, friendship crumbles, and cities divide." ". Due to Lear's obvious error in measuring his daughters' love, he banishes the one child who truly loves him and seals his fate for the rest of the play. Likewise, Gloucester is deceived by his dishonest son Edmund and wrongly forbids his faithful son Edgar, thereby creating the conditions for his own suffering. It is through his suffering in the storm scene that the importance of self-knowledge, for Lear, is greatest. strikingly obvious. Lear is a man who has become accustomed to “the name and all that characterizes a king.” He is used to being obeyed, respected and feared. Being king is his identity – for him, it's not a job, but who he is. He is shaken when his status as king is destroyed by Goneril and Regan, wondering "Does Lear walk like that?" Talk like that? ...Who can tell me who I am? Tellingly, the Fool responds with “Lear’s shadow”. The loss of his position as king is ultimately the catalyst for Lear's impending madness. Stripped of the trappings of royalty, Lear does not know himself. Without his useless retinue of a hundred men, he feels naked and emasculated. This insecurity and complete lack of self-knowledge is most starkly exposed in the storm scenes. of heart… “Between two extremes of passion, joy and sorrow, burst into smiles”. Gloucester was saved from a miserable death thanks to Edgar's complete forgiveness, pure love and loyalty. Edgar's vivid description of his death highlights how important his son's forgiveness was to Gloucester, and knowing that he had a devoted son after all saved him from utter suffering. King Lear deals with many human problems and highlights the importance of several values. It is through the suffering and redemption of Lear and Gloucester that Shakespeare shows us the importance of self-knowledge and forgiveness. Ultimately, both of these characters died after gaining a greater understanding of their inner being and, more importantly, after receiving the unconditional, healing love and compassion of their child..