Essay on Edgars role in King Lear, Act 3, Scene 4

Edgars role in King Lear, Act 3, Scene 4 In Act 3, Scene 4, Edgar takes on the roles of a madman, and a spirit. In counterfeiting madness, he not only hides from an unjust death, but also serves as a character that resembles King Lear: (1) Both are deceived by family; (2) Both are outcasts of Gloucesters castle; (3) Both are threatened with death; and (4) Both enter into a form of madness. But, whereas King Lear actually becomes mad, Edgar only feigns madness. As Edgar takes the role of a spirit (3.4.39), he reveals: (1) Edmunds moral condition, by prescribing moral laws that he will break (3.4.80-83); and (2) that Gloucester will be blinded by Edmund (3.4.117). This essay will begin by examining how Edgars role, as an†¦show more content†¦(3) They both are threatened with death. Gloucester tells Kent that Regan and Goneril seek his [the Kings] death (3.4.163) and Edmund tells Edgar that his life is in danger (2.1.14-32). (4) They both enter into a form of madness. Edgar pretends to be mad after his exile, which i s shown in Act 3, Scene 4; while the Kings madness grows throughout the play. Thus Edgars role in this scene as an outcast, and feigned madman, strongly parallels the life and fate of King Lear. In Act 3, Scene 4, the Fool introduces Edgar into the scene as a spirit (3.4.39-43). This title seems trivial at first, but since some of Edgars lines are prophetic, this notion carries much more weight. In this role, he calls out to Edmund: Take heed o th foul fiend. Obey thy parents, keep thy words justice, swear not, commit not with mans sworn spouse, set not thy sweet heart on proud array. Toms a-cold. (3.4.80-83) Edmund breaks the first two commandments when Gloucester tells him that he is going to save the King, and warns Edmund: Say you nothing [to the Duke] (3.3.8). Its only two scenes later that Edmund disobeys his father in reporting to Cornwall about Gloucesters plan (3.5.1-25), which also reveals his lying heart. The next two commandments are broken when he plans to marry Goneril (4.2.17-18), who is already married to Albany, and thus charged with adulteryShow MoreRelated The Northern Lights2820 Words   |  12 PagesI’m either out of shape or lazy. I have learned one thing this quarter. I don’t have to travel to the northern lights to find Shakespeare. I discovered him one day in a play, within a small scene, as a character, in an illusion. This quarter I had the opportunity to perform Edgar in a small production of King Lear. I truly believe Edgar is the embodiment of Shakespeare. I just had to perform him to figure it out. Now, I must confess; I haven’t read ev ery Shakespeare play twice, so I don’t know if otherRead More Action and Observation in Shakespeares King Lear Essay2306 Words   |  10 PagesAction and Observation in King Lear      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Auden once asserted that Shakespearean tragedy is necessarily parabolic, pertaining to the only myth that Christianity possesses: that of the unrepentant thief. We as the spectators are thus implicated in the action since each of us is in danger of re-enacting [this story] in his own way.1 The sufferings of the hero could be our own sufferings, whereas in Greek tragedy, such a notion is precluded precisely because the misfortunes of a characterRead MoreAnalysing the Black Cat Using Labovs Narrative Structure5713 Words   |  23 Pageselements of tragedy, mystery and terror as presented in the short story In completing the task, I will use Labov’s Narrative Theory to conduct narrative analysis of the short story, The Black Cat written by Edgar Allan Poe. The structure of this essay begins with the introduction to narrative and narrative analysis. The second part develops in the literature review where I will explain Labov’s Narrative Structure and introducing the author of the story, Edgar Allan Poe. The section ends with the