Edmund

Edmund

1. Legitimacy

   • "Fine word, 'legitimate'"
   • Despises legitimacy but equally desires to be accepted as legitimate
     • "Yet Edmund was beloved"
     • Did not have to fight Edgar as he did not name himself. He fought him to prove himself and because of pride

2. Machiavellian

   • Cynical and manipulative
     • "Which of them shall I take? Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoyed If both remain alive"

3. Malcontent

   • Audience sympathy at beginning and end
     • "Some good I mean to do, Despite of mine own nature"
     • "Thou, Nature, art my goddess"

4. Relationship with Gloucester

   • Malice towards father
     • "the whoreson must be acknowledged"
     • "Why 'bastard'?"
       • Questioning his place in society

5. Desire to advance in society

   • Driven by jealousy of Edgar and hate of father
     • Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit. All with me's meet that I can fashion fit