Character Analysis Of King Lear

Edgar also plays a much larger role both in his relationships with other characters and in the play as a whole than Albany. This is suggested by the original title of the Q1 version, “Mr. William Shakespeare: his true chronicle history of the life and death of King Lear and his three Daughters. With the unfortunate life of Edgar, son and heir to the Earl of Gloucester, and his sullen and assumed humour of Tom of Bedlam.” (Weis 3). In this title, Edgar is shown to be the second most important character, only below Lear, because he is the second character to be referenced by name. The sentence also revolves around him and the fact that he has suffered. So, this title seems to suggest that other than Lear, Edgar experiences the most suffering in the play. Edgar even has his own scene (2.3) where he recites a monologue about his

Lear’s first ‘speech of a madman’ occurs when he meets Tom (Edgar). From this point on, Lear slips into madness as Tom slowly begins to rise back up and reclaim his identity as Edgar. Therefore, Edgar is essentially the foil of Lear, as Edgar is powerless and Lear is (mostly) sane when they first meet and then Edgar begins to regain his status and Lear begins to lose his sanity after they meet. Edgar, as Tom, takes on the role of the fool for Lear, who demands he stay with him. The role of the fool in this play is basically the logic, honesty and the knowledge of the audience. For instance, the character who originally plays Lear’s fool is the only one who can speak freely with Lear and criticize his actions. The Fool is also honest and ‘calls it as he sees it’ whereas everyone else in the play tells Lear exactly what he wants to hear, except of course Kent who is banished for speaking honestly to the king about his actions towards