Final answer:
Edgar's reflection on Gloucester's punishment in 'King Lear' underscores the play's exploration of justice, morality, and societal beliefs, especially in the context of the harsh retributive justice system of Elizabethan times. Gloucester's blinding is portrayed as a direct consequence of his sin, aligning with the era's belief in physical punishment for moral transgressions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Act 5.3 of "King Lear," Edgar reflects on the punishment Gloucester received for his adulterous acts, which ultimately led to Gloucester being blinded. This commentary echoes the broader themes of justice, morality, and societal beliefs that are central to the play. Edgar's line, "the dark and vicious place where thee he got cost him his eyes," implies that Gloucester's immoral act of adultery in a metaphorically dark and sinful setting — his conception of Edmund — led directly to his physical punishment. This correlation can be understood within the realm of Elizabethan times, during which beliefs about divine justice meant that immoral actions would lead to physical consequences or divine punishment.
Elizabethan times were marked by a strict sense of morality and retributive justice, where a clear line was often drawn between good and evil, and punishment was thought to fit the crime in a very literal sense. In "King Lear," punishments are often physical and brutal, reflecting the societal beliefs of the time that harsh retribution was necessary and moral. The severe consequence Gloucester faces — losing his eyes — implies that physical punishment was seen as an acceptable, perhaps even required, response to enforce societal morals and order, highlighting the harsh perspectives on justice prevalent during Elizabethan times.