Edgar, Edmund and Gloucester

1. Make a list of the characters qualities

2. Divide the list into positive and negative
3. Do you relate to the characters
4. How is the character introduced to us + first impressions left of them

Edgar

1+2

Good
Kind: “Give me your hand, I’ll lead you to some
biding” Edgar comes up with an elaborate plot
to save the life of his father who disowned him
Forgiving: “Let’s exchange charity” Edgar is
forgiving Edmund for his actions in his final
moments
Good judge of character: “I know thee well; a
serviceable villain” he is saying that Oswald
bends to Goneril’s wishes as he does
Honest: “I cannot daub it further” he is hurt by
the fact he has to pretend to be Poor Tom and
wishes to cast aside the façade but knows he is
unable to do so
3
Bad
Foolish: “Some villain hath done me wrong” he
is fooled by his brother Edmund believing him
and making this ironic comment
Malicious: “I am only sorry he had no other
deathsman” this is Edgar saying his only regret
about killing Oswald was that is wasn’t crueller
Self-centred: “Send thy token of reprieve”
Edgar in his extravagant speech neglected to
find out the location of Cordelia who might
have been saved in turn saving Lear
Honour bound: “When the time shall serve, let
but the herald cy, and I’ll appear again” Edgar
risks his life when it would be much more
efficient to ambush Edmund instead but his
vanity forbids its

Edgar is a foolish character written with the same creativity and ingenuity I have seen in so many
masterful by the number sequels. Edgar is hard to relate to as they attempt to make the character
kind throughout the play unwilling to show the resentment any normal human being would
experience when someone attempt to assassinate them as most human do not like the prospect of
being impaled. The only part of the his character that I relate to is his desire to hurt Oswald even in
death “Thee I’ll rake up, the post unsanctified of murderous lechers” as I would not even humour his
last wish as I see not merit in a funeral for such a wrenched man and would wish to give the
carnivores an easy meal instead of going through preparations for such a detestable villain.

Edgar is first introduced as the naïve noble “Whose nature is so far from doing harms”. He is both
unworthy of the title and position he has acquired as although he appear chivalrous and trusting
these are undesirable traits in a world filled with deception. Edgar is unaware of the fact his brother
is setting him up and states “Some villain hath done me wrong” in front of the perpetrator fully
unaware of the irony.

Edmund

1+2

Good Bad
Intelligent: “Some blood drawn on me would Machiavellian: “Some good I mean to do
beget opinion” he is aware if he injures himself despite of mine own nature” Edmund is putting
 everyone will believe he fought valiantly on an act in his last moment to seem repentant
Neglected: “I have so often blushed to Self-centred: “Yet Edmund was beloved”
acknowledge him” it is likely Gloucester felt Edmund is focusing on the fact that Goneril and
shame for squiring the whoreson and ignored Regan died for him instead of mourning the fact
Edmund through his adolescence that they are now gone
Driven: “Legitimate Edgar, I must have your Hypocritical: “If thou’rt noble, I do forgive thee”
land” he has a plan and does anything in his despite the fact Edmund was a whoreson
power to execute it fighting to gain what he believed should be his
Righteous: “Now, gods stand up for bastards” Disloyal: “That this treason were not, or not I
Edmund is aware that is social class is looked the detector” he is betraying his father’s trust
down upon and desires to change his fate and making it seem as though he is saddened
3: I find that Edmund while a repulsive human being is oddly magnetic whose death made by hope
another deity would be added to the Orphic (Greek religion worships those who beat death)
pantheon defying death itself. Edmund states “The wheel has come full circle” referring to fortune’s
wheel a concept however illogical does hold some of my sentiments with about reality fighting a
current you are unable to change no matter which steps you take while other with half of the effort
fly miles in front leaving your joy shot and your hopes dashed. I also relate to his pragmatism when
he states “neither can be enjoyed if both remain alive” he is aware that if one of the sister dies then
he will be able to marry the other and have a clearly defined path to the crown.

4: Edmund is introduced in the first scene alongside his father. Edmund speaks little in this scene a
sign of how little power he has in the court of Lear. At first he appears a noble boy stating “Sir, I shall
study deserving” to Kent meaning he will act to please him. We are given his backstory in the first
scene when Gloucester states “the whoreson must be acknowledges” suggesting that Edmund is his
illegitimate child of Gloucester. In Shakespearian times being born out of wedlock would have
severely harmed Edmund’s chances of success giving us insight into why later on why he needs to be
so aggressive to advance his social status latter on in the play.

Gloucester

1+2

Good
Caring: “In fellow, there, into the hovel” he is
providing shelter for Lear despite the dangers
he places himself in for doing so
Analytical: “The duke’s to blame in this” he is
aware that if they capture Lear’s servant Lear
will be irate and distances himself from his
anger
Self-aware: “I am almost made myself” his is
fully aware of the vast mental strain placed on
him by attempting to kill Edgar, his son
Repentant: “Then Edgar was abused. Kind gods
forgive me that” his is now aware of how he
was mislead
3
Bad
Fickle: “Unnatural, detested, brutish villain”
after being fooled by Edmund he now despises
his favourite son
Unkind: “I have so often blushed to
acknowledge him” he is stating in front of his
whoreson I was embarrassed you were my child
Neglectful: “He hath been out nine years” this
is him stating he hasn’t seen Edmund for nine
years
Suicidal: “Bring me but to the brim of it” he is
unwilling to face the consequences of his
actions and attempt to save his son

Gloucester in my opinion is one of the most flawed characters in the play from his adulterous affair
which resulted in Edmund to attempting to maraud Edgar of his own I find it hard to relate to such a
thoughtless egomaniac without an ounce of intelligence until his eyes are rightfully plucked from his
head suffering from a form of microcephaly (small head) which patiently crushed what little wit he
possessed in his youth. The only thing I relate to in this charmless character is the pessimistic nature
he acquires after being blinded “a man may rot even here” as he is aware that it doesn’t matter
where you die.

Gloucester first appears as a self-centred fool focused solely on his position leaving his lover “a son
fir her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed”. He was willing to have intercourse with a woman
out of wedlock yet seems unwilling to respect his son as he is a reminder of what a weak willed,
unfaithful wrench he is. He asks Kent to “Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend” instead
of his true blood connection as he though he claims that he is now “brazen to’t” when referring to
Edmund as his son he still resents him deep down and will never treat him as his brother’s equal
creating conflict that will take the lives of Cordelia and Lear partly as a result of his overactive libido.