Character Analysis:
Edgar
There are four different version of Edgar presented in the play:
- Simpleminded victim of Edmund
- Beggar
- Peasant
- Chivalrous, champion daring Edmund
How does Edgar go from one of the play’s most pitiful characters to the one who lends distinction to the end of the play? Is Edgar able to learn from his riches to rags experience and his exposure to suffering, and to that of others in the play.
It is probably wise to look at Edgar in terms of his actual role in King Lear, and not that of Edgar himself.
-
- He speaks several times on the relationship between the gods and men, he acts as the religious voice in King Lear.
- He has faith in the triumph of goodness over evil and he is able to see beyond mere luck to some higher grand design.
- He is Gloucester’s saviour in the play
Edgar is a compassionate moral character who is completely different to his brother who it could be argued lacks any morals.
But is Edgar just an annoying piece of optimism considering the context of the play in which there seems to be very little hope? Edgar’s optimistic moral statements are at times ironic given the bleak realities in the play, such as his blind father. Edgar should be irate with his father for believing Edmund without giving him a fair trial, making him a convict and forcing him to run. Gloucester doesn’t even recognise his son (eyes or no eyes) and tells the beggar to go away.
Despite all this, Edgar is kind to his father: he guides him, cares for him, and even kills a man who tries to capture his father.
But Edgar doesn’t tell Gloucester his identity. There’s nothing stopping Edgar from saying, “Dad! It’s me! Your long lost son!” But he doesn’t. This is one of the most mysterious choices in the play. Even Edgar admits that he “never—O fault!—revealed myself” to Gloucester until right before Gloucester’s death. Is Edgar getting back at his father for disowning him? Gloucester wants to see his son again but Edgar remains quiet on the matter – is Edgar blinding his father symbolically? Or is Edgar afraid of what might happen if he did reveal himself to his father? Remember Gloucester died of shock and joy when Edgar did finally show himself to Gloucester.
Character Analysis:
