King Lear | H1 Notes

Edmund

• Edmund, Gloucester’s illegitimate son, is undoubtedly one of the most Machiavellian and cunning characters in the play.

• Bitter as a result of his lack of social status due to being born the “bastard” son.

• Questions prejudice society has against children born out of wedlock, “Why brand they us/ With base?”

• Feel sorry for him as it is clear that he has not received the same love from his father as his legitimate brother, “I have so often blushed to acknowledge him”.

• Driven by ambition to improve his own social status and wealth, whatever the cost.

• Clearly an immoral character who has no regard for his family. He hatches a plan to have his brother written out of his father’s will, a shocking act which makes his lack of care for Edgar evident, “Edmund the base/ Shall top the legitimate”.

• His malicious nature is evident from the beginning of the play in Act I Scene II, where he tricks his father into believing that his legitimate son, Edgar, is plotting to kill him, “The contents, as in/ part I understand them, are to blame”.

• Although Edmund’s cruelty is striking, I feel compelled to admire his creativeness in coming up with a plan to so effectively fool his father.

• Edmund is also seen as cunning and two-faced as he ‘advises’ Edgar to go into hiding as Gloucester is looking to kill him, “Brother, I advise you to the best; go armed”.

• Although incredibly immoral, it is quite admirable that Edmund so successfully turns his brother and father against each other. He appears as a powerful character who cannot be fooled, unlike many others in the play.

• “Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit”.

• Shown as a wicked character when he blatantly betrays his father’s trust by telling Cornwall that the French forces have arrived to help Lear. Edmund makes a lame attempt to convince himself that by doing this, he is benefitting the whole kingdom, King Lear | H1 Notes 1 “I will persevere in my course of loyalty, though the conflict be sore between that and my blood”, but the audience can see through him.

• Edmund’s lack of morals is clear, yet his ambition to achieve power is also increasingly evident, “The younger rises when the old doth fall”. Ambition makes him stand out.

• Not loyal, tricks family, but also has love affairs with Goneril and Regan, “To both these sisters have I sworn my love”.

• However, having several love affairs may be his way of searching for the affection his father deprived him of as a child. This is suggested when Edmund realises that Goneril and Regan loved him after their deaths, “Yet Edmund was beloved”.

• Complex character: can’t make up his mind/ decide what he wants.

• Unpredictability makes him exciting.

• Characters with several love interests tend to be more compelling than those without, and Edmund is no exception.

• Infidelity, highlights immorality, proves him intense and intriguing.

• His plot for one sister to kill the other further reveals his deplorable/ pure evil nature, shows sly and cunning attributes, “Neither can be enjoyed/ If both remain alive”.

• Appears mentally unstable when his determination to trick his father into thinking Edgar is evil takes him as far as to wound himself and blame it on Edgar, “My unprovided body, [Edgar] lanced mine arm”.

• Alas, it appears that Edmund’s action doesn’t accompany his talk when he is mortally wounded in battle against his brother, “What you have charged me with, that I have done”. Appears weak, disappoints audience.

• Has some personal insight, realises his dream is futile, “The wheel is come full circle: I am here”.

• Clearly aware of immorality, in his last moments he tries to save Lear and Cordelia, but only for personal benefit, “I pant for life. Some good I mean to do”.

• Other characters aren’t upset when he dies, “That is but a trifle here” (Albany).

King Lear | H1 Notes 2

King Lear | H1 Notes 3