King Lear - Character Analysis - Edmund

Question 1

Who is Edmund

Answer 1

Brother to Edgar

Gloucester’s illegitimate son

Question 2

Describe edmunds character traits

Answer 2

Most interesting character in the play
Has a distinctive point of view at attitude to everybody and everything
Highly individual mode of expression
Most evil character
Totally amoral and devoted solely to his own interests and prepared to destroy anything that gets in his way
Different from Lear’s daughters because he has a range of interesting attitudes, a liveliness of minds and a real sense of humor
He has a considerable strength of will
Has enough charm and plausibility to impress anyone
Cynical observer of Gloucester’s superstitions
Doesn’t believe in the notion of an organic universe
Has no principle
Blood relationships mean nothing to him
Takes any chance he gets to get what he wants

Question 3

What adjectives describe Edmund

Answer 3

Lively
Clever
Ruthless
Self-centered
Ambitious
Charming
Quick whitted
Unprincipled
Heartless
Self-seeking
Plausible
Cynical
Opportunist
Immoral

Question 4

What quote backs up the fact that Edmund is a cynical observer of Gloucester’s superstitions

Answer 4

“Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon to stand auspicious mistress” - Edmund (act 2 scene 1)

Question 5

What quotes backs up that Edmund is manipulative

Answer 5

“I dare pawn down my life for him, that he hath writ this to feel my affection to your honor, and to no other pretense of danger” - Edmund (act 2 scene 1)

Question 6

What are edmunds key scenes

Answer 6

When he forged the letter from Edgar and gave it to Gloucester
When he deceived Edgar into running from his father
When he stabbed himself to make it seem as though Edgar did it
When he agreed with regan when she said that Edgar was working with Lear
When Gloucester vowed to give Edmund his inheritance