Previous to Act 2, Edmund had duped his father, Gloucester,
into thinking Edmund's brother Edgar was going against his wishes of not providing
Edmund with inheritance and he convinced Edgar he planned to help him by having
him hide within their manor. Act 2 opens
with Edmund being told a rumor about a quarrel between the Duke of Cornwall and
the Duke of Albany (both husbands of the Lear sisters) and decides to use it in
his plot to oust Edgar. Edgar enters and Edmund advises him to “fly this place!”
(20), so as to avoid being caught up in the dilemma and face Gloucester’s
wrath. Edmund convinces Edgar that he will help him by issuing a false threat
in Gloucester’s presence. After Edgar leaves, Edmund goes so far as to harm
himself to make his scheme more convincing. Edmund tells Gloucester that Edgar’s
intention was to “Persuade me to the murder of your Lordship” (43). Edmund also
adds that Edgar insulted him and created a fake letter to trick the two men.
The lie has Gloucester convinced and he has men sent out to find and kill
Edgar. Edmund’s plot reveals his conniving and wanton personality. Edmund believes
he is justified in receiving Gloucester’s inheritance in that he has struggled
as a bastard child his whole life. Gloucester is quick to believe Edmund’s lies
and seek out punishment for Edgar, proving a sudden shift from preferring neither
child of his to calling Edmund a “loyal and natural boy” (83) who deserves his
fortune. Edgar is a trusting character
in that he goes along with all Edmund advises him to do and is punished for
doing no wrong, a theme in this play that implies a fundamentally good and
honest character.
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