Shakespeare’s Edmund

Wherefore should I
Stand in the plaque of custom, and permit
The curiosity of nations deprive me,
For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon shines
Lag of my brother? (King Lear, I, ii)

In a dimly-lit chamber a handsome youth paces back and forth. Silently, he contemplates his fate. The illegitimate son of the Duke of Gloucester regrets his brother’s preponderance, and he resolves to gain what he thinks is his own.

Edmund is one of the most startling characters of Shakespeare’s creation. The young man’s first scene is quite pitiful; however, this pity soon turns into disgust when Edmund reveals his plan of action. To gain what he wants, Edmund, from his own self-will, decides to get rid of his brother, Edgar. He succeeds in writing a letter in his brother’s hand, which betrays Edgar as wanting to kill Gloucester; thus, “Edmund the base/ Shall to the legitimate.” (I, ii)

Evil feeds on itself, as Edmund nears his goal. Being in line for the dukedom is not enough, for he wishes to become the Duke of Gloucester as soon as he can; accordingly, he takes on the view of which he falsely accused his brother. He says to his father,

I have heard him oft maintain
it to be fit, that, sons of perfect
age, and fathers declining, the father
should be as ward to the son, and
the son manage his revenue (I, ii)

The opportunity presents itself when Gloucester places trust in his son. Edmund takes advantage of this, and in one sordid act betrays both his father and the invading French army. He, then, in a calm voice is able to say, “The younger rises when the old doth fall.” (III, iii)

The most heinous decision of Edmund occurs during his debut as the new Duke of Gloucester. Even though Albany wishes to make amends with Lear and Cordelia, Edmund resolves that they shall, “Shall never see his pardon” (V, i). He wants all power for himself and will spare nothing to get it. As soon as the King and his daughter are captured, he makes sure that his “writ/ Is on the life of Lear and of Cordelia.” (V, iii)

Edmund is arguably the blackest of all Shakespeare’s characters. The strangest of all is that at the apex of Edmund’s life, while fighting his brother, he realizes his mistake: in his own words, “The wheel has come full circle” (ibid.). This small glimmer of light shows that he is not all black. Even in the vilest person, there is still some good.