king lear(edmund)

Running Head : Edmund

King Lear 's Edmund

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Edmund

From all the characters in the play , Edmund is considered the most Machiavellian due to his intricate characteristics . At the opening parts of the play , Edmund was described by Shakespeare as a bastard , who have been consistently mocked and insulted by his own father Gloucester .In one passage Gloucester used this quote as an introduction to his illegitimate son Edmund "though this knave came something saucily into the world before he was called for , yet was

his mother fair there was good sport at his making , and the whoreson must be acknowledged (Shakespeare , I , i ,14

The insults of him being a bastard have motivated Edmund to being a villain in the play . Edmund has kept all his frustrations of this by himself from the beginning and only stated these words on the play

Lag of a brother ? Why bastard ? wherefore base

When my dimensions are as well compact

My mind as generous , and my shape as true

As honest madam 's issue ? Why brand they us

With base ? with baseness ? bastardy ? base , base ( Shakespeare , I ii ,22

Edmund rejected what tradition and society dictates and instead follow the more practical nature 's rules in which he considers as his own goddess : Thou , nature , art my goddess to thy law My services are bound (Act I ,ii , 1-2 . Edmund then planned on settling the score , he first deceived his brother Edgar (the legitimate son of Gloucester ) to look...