King Lear And Edmund Essay Research Paper

King Lear And Edmund Essay, Research Paper

In King Lear, the villainous but intelligent Edmund, with more than a brief

examination into his character, has understandable motivations outside of the

base purposes with which he might at first be credited. Edmund is a character

worthy of study, as he seems to be the most socially complex character of the

play. In a sense, he is both victim and villain. Edmund is introduced into the

play in the opening scene with his father, Gloucester, stating that he

acknowledges him as his son, but publicly mocking him for his bastardy. He is

referred to by Gloucester as a reason for Gloucester to blush and as a

.knave. in front of Kent (1.1.9-25). According to Claude J. Summers,

.Illegitimacy is the characteristic which most pervasively defines Edmund.s

life. (225). In essence, this means that personal embarrassment and public

humiliation are a continual torment for him his entire life. Concerning the

illegitimate sons of royalty in England at that time, according to Chris

Given-Wilson in The Royal Bastards of Medieval England, .The bend . . . or

baton sinister . . . were used as the standard mark of illegitimacy. in their

heraldry (52). Edmund and those like him, expected to serve in battle, were

immediately known to other knights as being bastards because it was clearly

emblazoned on their shields. Given his father.s mocking of him, it can be

expected that this was common treatment for illegitimate sons of nobility and

the carrying of a sign to broadcast his perceived lower class would be cause for

further humiliation. Edmund is a highly intelligent person. He is able to

beguile his father, so it may be argued that he is more intelligent than

Gloucester. With the concept of forging a letter supposedly penned by Edgar in

order to cause his loyalty to be in question, he shows that he is deeply aware

of the necessary .buttons. to push to cause a rift in the fabric of his

family and A Look at Shakespeare.s Edmund his society. It shows that he is

capable of original and creative thought processes (1.2.28-36). When Edmund

makes a show of hiding the letter from his father, then hesitating to show it to

him further, he shows a deep understanding of human nature (1.2.38-47). Who

would not be intrigued and desire to see it. Who would be capable of crediting

him with the writing of the letter. Edmund has a keen understanding of human

nature and an intelligence that excels that of his father. Edmund could

certainly not be described as naive. Early in the play, we realize that his

brother Edgar is just the opposite, though later he grows wiser due to

necessity. In believing Edmund.s lies that their father is angry with him to

the point of accepting the advice to carry a sword around with him, he displays

his poor judgment, eventually causing grave difficulties for himself and his

father (1.2.164-83). In contrasting Edgar and Edmund, we can see that Edmund is

clearly more world-wise and able to create situations to his own advantage. This

lack of naivet. and clear thinking can be seen as a form of intelligence. He is

able to easily trick his brother and is intelligent than Edgar. In comparing

Goneril and Regan to Edmund, we find that Edmund is once again the more crafty

and intelligent. By the end of the play we see that their plots are going to

hinge on his course of action and that they are both doting on him. He has one

willing to kill her husband and the other willing to give him all of her land

and a title. Given their natures, it is almost a surprise that the author has

not portrayed them as creatures similar to the witches in Mac Beth. Edmund knows

who they are and it is doubtful they could be physically attractive to him, yet

they choose to believe the sincerity of his overtures. His ability to dupe them

shows him to be their superior. When Edmund covets Edgar.s inheritance, it is

not simply the coveting of land and title; it is a coveting of respect in the

social order of his world. Edgar reveals not only his intentions, but also some

of the reasoning behind them when he says Legitimate Edgar, I must have your

land. Our father.s love is to the bastard Edmond As to th.legitimate. Fine

word, .legitimate. Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed And my

invention thrive, Edmond the base Shall to the.legitimate: I grow, I prosper.

Now gods, stand up for bastards! (1.2.15-22) Were materialistic reasons the only

concern, he would not be mentioning legitimacy and would not be concerned about

the love of his father. Jonathan Dollimore argues that Edmund . . . . is made

to serve an existing system of values; although he falls prey to . . . his

obsession with power, property and inheritance. (79). This is a shallow view,

given the level of intelligence displayed by Edmund throughout the play and his

concern with legitimacy. There is more motivation behind h

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