As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods;

As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods;
They kill us for their sport.

These words are spoken by Gloucester in act IV scene i. He has just been blinded by Cornwall and Regan and is wandering on the heath. His words reflect the deep despair that has taken hold of him and drives him to wish he were dead. They also work to highlight one of the play's main themes, the question of whether or not there is justice in the universe. Gloucester suggests that there is no good order in the universe and that man is incapable of imposing his own moral ideas upon the harsh laws of the world. There is only "sport" of cruel gods who in turn reward cruelty. The plays events seem to coincide with Gloucester's outlook on the world. The good die along with the bad and there is no reason behind the unbearable suffering that takes place.

-Meline Kyurkchyan