King Lear; Edgar Flashcards
(4 cards)
What is our first impression of Edgar?
Our initial impression of Edgar is that of a caring, overly-trusting individual. Critics have often commented on the inconsistancies in Edgar’s intellect claiming that his ability to be duped so easily by Edmund lies in stark contrast his cunning and resourrceful behaviour. However I would argue it isn’t stupid behaviour to believe in your brother although rather a tad oblivious.
His radical disguise shows depths of cunning and resourcefulnes, Edgar knows that as a pauperised madman he will attract minimal attention, and therefore will escape his pursuers: “poor! Tom / That’s something yet; Edgar I nothing am”.
Edgar’s* ingenuity* is further demonstrated when Lear and his companions come to the hovel. His speeches and poetry match those of the Fool in both quality and quantity: Be thy mouth of black or white… Dogs leapt the hatch and all are fled. In fact Edgar’s appearance as poor Tom causes the fools character to gradually fade into the background of the play.
Describe Edgar’s Compassion.
Edgar’s exile and new role as mad begger gives him the same kind of insight into suffering as it did both Gloucester and Lear. His dealings with lear fill him with immense pity and compassion: “My tears begin to take his part so much / They’ll mar my counterfeiting”.
In spite of exile from his father, he displays unquestioning loyalty when Gloucester is delivered into his hands. It is a testement to his decency and loyalty that he has not been embittered by his experiences. He escorts his father to Dover, his trick with the suicide attempt again displaying both resourcefullness and ingenuity. He then consoles his father by telling him the gods must love him if he survived the fall: “Think of the clearest gods, who have preserved thee”.
He is clearly determined not to let Gloucester succumb to his hopelessness and tells him to “Bear free and patient thoughts”. He displays direct protection in the killing of Oswald. Even when Gloucester wishes for death again, Edgar will not allow him: “Men must endure… Ripeness is all”. Like Cordelia Edgar will do anything to save his father.
Describe Edgar’s Faith in the Gods.
Despite everything he suffers and has to undergo, Edgar is determined no to give in to despair. He never loses faith in the gods and tries to learn fro his experiences. The sight of Lear’s pain makes his difficulties seem small by comparison: “When we our betters see bearing our wores, We / We scarcely think our miseries our foes”.
Edgar’s level-headedness is tested with his reunion of his blinded father. He is reflecting on how fortune can bring him no lower and he has nothing to fear: “The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune… The worst returns to laughter”.
As if to mock him the next thing he sees is the blind Gloucester being led along by the old man, He is struck by the curelty of fate: “And worse I may be yet… This is the worst”. In spite of this, he never succumbs to hopelessness.
Describe Edgar as an Agent of Justice.
Edgar has a very strong sense of right and wrong, and is determined to see justice done. His own and others sufferings inspire him to seek revenge against Edmund. He is chilling in his confrontation with Edmund, he speaks in grim, straight-forward terms of his determination to punish his brother: “This sword, this arm and my best spirits are bent… Thou liest”.
Edgars vision of justice is a grim one. Although he extends his hand in forgiveness, he believes that his father suffered rightly on account of his begetting an illegitimate son: “The gods are just, and our pleasent vices… cost him his eyes”.
The prospect of Edgar as a ruler is one of the few hopeful prospects of the play’s end. We can easily imagine him as a just and compassionate king.
