I was casually on sparknotes because I wanted to see how they translated Edmund’s soliloquy, and-
The original line:
-strongly worded
-bold
-makes him sound like he could definitely succeed with his plot
The new and improved line:
-what
-he sounds like a child
-I’m literally picturing 10 year old Edmund now
Original line:
“oh you’re into that now?”
New and improved line:
“you’re wasting your time with that? Really? You absolute idiot.”
(I just gotta say, when I was typing “reason” autocorrect changed it to “treason”, and I think that’s very appropriate considering the subject matter)
So. I guess I’ve always subconsciously had this headcannon/ believed this headcannon to be true, but it just occurred to me that it’s very much a headcannon and not textually true. So let’s dive into this.
HEADCANNON STARTS HERE:
So. In the opening scene of King Lear, Gloucester is introducing Edmund to Kent. There’s something that always bothered me about this scene- If Gloucester so obviously likes Edgar more than Edmund, why would he not only not bring Edgar along, but bring Edmund, of all people? It doesn’t make much sense.
UNLESS. And hear me out. [ Ignore that one line that says Edmund was gone for 7 years. Ok. You don’t know how gone he was*. So just for a second forget about this so I can move on with the headcannon.]
OK. So we know. We see very clearly. That between the two, Edgar clearly isn’t the smart one. Edgar clearly isn’t the one who would do best meeting with random nobility, as we see when Regan visits Gloucester and says something like “ew wasn’t that the guy who hung out with my dad’s knights?”. Edmund, on the other hand, can easily hold a conversation with anyone. Edmund is the charismatic one. So if Gloucester would have to choose one to bring with him to represent the Gloucester family, he’d make the decision that would be the most beneficial to him, rather than the decision he’s happiest with. He’d bring Edmund.
That’s part of the reason for why he feels the need to 1- introduce him as “my bastard kid” 2-and mention that he has an older legitimate brother. That way anyone meeting him would get the idea “if the younger illegitimate son is *this* pleasant to talk to, imagine how cool and talented the*older, legitimate* son is!”.
Gloucester introduces Edmund the way that he does not because he just feels like it, or can’t think of anything better to say. He introduces him like that to make his family look better. Because yes, sometimes insulting your kid could indirectly cause people to believe that your family is better and more talented than it is.
And obviously Edmund is no idiot. He knows Gloucester’s intentions. Not very good ones, in his (and my) opinion. Honestly, he’d rather Gloucester act like that out of stupidity, or a lack of understanding for social situations. He’d even except Gloucester treating him like that out of pure hatred. But he doesn’t even get that much. All he is is a way to advance the family’s image to the public. And it seems like it worked perfectly fine, considering everyone’s opinions on the Earl of Gloucester pre-play
(PLEASE read this It would literally mean so much to me I know it’s long)
Me: I can draw
Me to me, 2 seconds later
…
Anyway. Enjoy an Edmund of Gloucester, with clothing that’s most certainly for the wrong time period
And please. I beg of you. Ignore that hand of his.
Step 1- want revenge
Step 2- start working on your revenge
Step 3- forge a letter from your relative than might lead to some people getting killed
Step 4- hell yeah! You got your revenge!
Step 5- get killed