Edmund (King Lear)



 Edmund is the son of the earl of Gloucester and the main villain of the Shakespearian play, King Lear. Although the play has many Villains, Edmund distinguishes himself as the only one who manages to manipulate all the others.

'''Biography '''

The Illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, due to this he was not recognized by his father, till shortly before the play had begun. The two seemed to get along, as did Edmund with his older legitimate brother, Edgar.

Gloucester even took him to court, where he met the duke of Kent. However, as illegitamate, it meant he would not inherit anything when his father died, and his brother would get all. This possibly along with his father abandoning him for so long led to him plotting against him.

First he framed his Half-brother for treason in his father’s eyes, and tricked his brother into thinking his father had turned on him, causing Edgar to go into self-proclaimed banishment. He even wounded himself to make it look more believable.

He also managed to make an allied of the Earl of Cornwall (Regan's husband), and later bested the Earl of Kent, now discussed as a commoner, when he attacked Goneril’s servant Oswald. His greed growing, he betrayed his father to the Earl of Cornwall, who was in the plot to return King Lear to his throne.

This event led to him becoming the Earl of Gloucester, and his father having his eyes plucked out. Now with the French army having landed on the shore, and Cornwall dead, Edmund began manipulating Goneril and Regan, both of which controlled half the country, and both of which were attracted to him.

Edmund led the English army and smashed the French, and captured King Lear and his youngest daughter Cordelier. Despite the Earl of Albany (Goneril's husband) orders, Edmund gave orders for them to be killed, now his sight on the throne. He tried to manipulate Albany, but for once his silver tongue failed him.

<p style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Helvetica', 'sans-serif'; color: #d5d4d4; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">However before his plan could continue, his brother Edgar, having learned of his sins, returned, disguised and challenged him to duel, the two thought, and Edgar emerged the victor, he revealed his identity to his dying brother. Who in his last words informed them of his orders. Perhaps only at the last minute realizing what he had done.