In-Depth Character Analysis:
Edgar
Use this as a basis for an essay based specifically on Edgar's character, for an essay based on the use of parallel plots, or for an essay based on how tragic King Lear is.
-_-_-Introduction-_-_-
Edgar is the only pure character from the Gloucester storyline: he is a character who is the counterbalance to the evil ambitions of his brother Edmund. Although his character lacks lustre in the beginning of the story, he gains respect and valour as his character progresses and as he guides his father Gloucester, who has been blinded, to Dover. Whereas the Lear story suffers from being extremely brutal and relentless with no real positive outcome it is after the two storylines have merged and towards the conclusion where Edgar relinquishes his disguise and fights Edmund to the death being the victor.
-_-_-A way in which we can compare Edgar to Edmund-_-_-
Although it is easy to recognise and establish Edgar and Edmund as opposing forces who form a counter-balance of good and evil, there are also some similarities between the two.
The most notable similarity is how both have fantastic role-playing ability; with Edmund being able to play the innocent and trick both Edgar and Gloucester into believing his malicious story:
“Edmund: In cunning I must draw my sword upon you. Draw! Seem to defend yourself!.... Gloucester: Now, Edmund, where’s the villain?”
And although in a different context Edgar displays a similar trait with his magnificent ability to transform himself into Poor Tom in both appearance and mentality:
“Gloucester: What are you there Your names?.... Edgar: Poor Tom, that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the tadpole, the wall-newt and the water; that in the fury of his heart, when the foul fiend rages”
-_-_-The key traits of Edgar’s character-_-_-
As mentioned earlier, at the start of the play it would be extremely hard to suggest that Edgar was valiant or withheld honour mostly due to his...