In order to understand the characteristic of any character, especially Edmund, one must be aware of his background. In the beginning of the play, "King Lear," the reader views Edmund as a character who should be pitied upon; not as how critics assert him to be one of the most evil characters in all of literature. This viewpoint of Edmund is evident in the proceeding pages of this play. When the reader is first introduced to him, through Kent and Gloucester's conversation, he learns of the Edmund's "bastard" status. Through Gloucester's bad deed and action, society frowns upon the illegit…
