Because I would not see thy cruel nails
Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister
In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.
– William Shakespeare
King Lear, Act 3, Scene 7. Gloucester tells Regan why he supports Lear. He says that he wants to protect Lear from the evil intentions of Regan and her sister Goneril, using animal imagery to describe their predatory and violent nature. Gloucester’s unfortunate words "pluck out his poor old eyes" foreshadows his own blinding, which happens moments after he speaks them. His words also reflect Lear’s metaphorical blindness.