Gloucester's elder, legitimate son. Although at first Edgar comes across as a bit naïve, easily duped by Edmund, he later disguises himself successfully as a madman beggar and manages not only to save himself from the death sentence his misled father has pronounced on him, but also to help Gloucester and Lear and to avenge the wrongs committed by his traitorous half-brother.
Edgar Quotes in King Lear
The King Lear quotes below are all either spoken by Edgar or refer to Edgar. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 2, scene 1
Quotes
"My old heart is cracked; it's cracked."
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Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2, scene 3
Quotes
"I will preserve myself, and am bethought
To take the basest and most poorest shape
That ever penury in contempt of man
Brought near to beast."
To take the basest and most poorest shape
That ever penury in contempt of man
Brought near to beast."
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, scene 4
Quotes
"Child Rowland to the dark tower came
His word was still 'Fie, foh, and fum,
I smell the blood of a British man."
His word was still 'Fie, foh, and fum,
I smell the blood of a British man."
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, scene 1
Quotes
"The worst is not
So long as we can say 'This is the worst.'"
So long as we can say 'This is the worst.'"
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Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, scene 6
Quotes
"How fearful
And dizzy tis to cast one's eyes so low!
[…]
I'll look no more
Lest my brain turn and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong."
And dizzy tis to cast one's eyes so low!
[…]
I'll look no more
Lest my brain turn and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong."
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire King Lear LitChart as a printable PDF.
Edgar Quotes in King Lear
The King Lear quotes below are all either spoken by Edgar or refer to Edgar. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 2, scene 1
Quotes
"My old heart is cracked; it's cracked."
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2, scene 3
Quotes
"I will preserve myself, and am bethought
To take the basest and most poorest shape
That ever penury in contempt of man
Brought near to beast."
To take the basest and most poorest shape
That ever penury in contempt of man
Brought near to beast."
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, scene 4
Quotes
"Child Rowland to the dark tower came
His word was still 'Fie, foh, and fum,
I smell the blood of a British man."
His word was still 'Fie, foh, and fum,
I smell the blood of a British man."
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, scene 1
Quotes
"The worst is not
So long as we can say 'This is the worst.'"
So long as we can say 'This is the worst.'"
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, scene 6
Quotes
"How fearful
And dizzy tis to cast one's eyes so low!
[…]
I'll look no more
Lest my brain turn and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong."
And dizzy tis to cast one's eyes so low!
[…]
I'll look no more
Lest my brain turn and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong."
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
