Edgar

Edgar

1. Context

   • The original heir to Gloucester
     • Not power hungry
   • Conforms to the social expectations of the legitimate son
   • Disguises himself physically as 'Poor Tom'
     • Disguises himself again as his father Jumps of the cliff.
     • Status deteriorates from HIGH- LOW

2. Key scenes

   • Act 2 Scene 1
     • Edgar leaves the castle
   • Act 1 Scene 2
     • Meet Edgar and see his innocence in relation to Edmund
   • Act 2 Scene 3
     • Soliloquy - disguises himself
   • Act 3 Scene 4
     • LINKS THE PLOTS

3. Interactions

   • Gloucester- close relationship, however lacks intimacy when playing Edgar
     • SIMILARLY TO CORDELIA & LEAR
   • Edmund - patronises Edgar with his lower status
     • SIMILARLY TO CORDELIA

4. Idiolect

   • Educated, the use of poetic devices
     • Use of rhetoric questions
     • Metaphors - verbose lexical field to suggest a more feminine role
   • Declaratives - similar to Edmund (status and power)

5. Key Themes

   • Legitmacy
     • Brotherhood
   • Father and son relationships - unconditional love
   • Identity - disguise