Edmund is a fictional character and the main antagonist in William Shakespeare’s King Lear. He is the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, and the younger brother of Edgar, the Earl’s legitimate son. In the first act of the play, Edmund resolves to get rid of his brother, then his father, and become Earl in his own right. He later flirts with both Goneril and Regan and attempts to play them off against each other. His mother died during childbirth.
First Appearance Historia regum Britanniae (c. 1136) by Geoffrey of Monmouth
First Publisher ○
Appearance List Historia regum Britanniae (c. 1136) by Geoffrey of Monmouth — earliest widely attested narrative of Leir/Cordelia in the British pseudo-historical tradition; Historia regum Britanniae (1508) — Paris: printed by Josse Bade (Jodocus Badius Ascensius) often cited as the first major printed edition; Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1577; rev. 1587) by Raphael Holinshed et al.; The True Chronicle History of King Leir (1605) by Anonymous (attributions disputed); M. William Shak-speare: His True Chronicle Historie of the life and death of King Lear… (1608) by William Shakespeare — first printed edition (Quarto 1); Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (1623) by William Shakespeare — First Folio printing includes King Lear (the Folio version differs substantially from Q1); The History of King Lear (1681) by Nahum Tate — influential Restoration adaptation (famously alters the ending), published as performed at the Duke’s Theatre; A Midsummer Night’s Dream: and Other Stories by E. Nesbit (1890) (A midsummer night’s dream.–Hamlet, prince of Denmark.–Twelfth night.–King Lear) [Internet Archive]; King Lear (1971) directed by Peter Brook; King Lear (1971) directed by Grigori Kozintsev; Lear (1978) by Aribert Reimann — opera adaptation (libretto by Claus H. Henneberg; premiered 1978 in Munich).
Sample Read Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [Internet Archive]
Description Edmund is a fictional character and the main antagonist in William Shakespeare’s King Lear. He is the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, and the younger brother of Edgar, the Earl’s legitimate son. In the first act of the play, Edmund resolves to get rid of his brother, then his father, and become Earl in his own right. He later flirts with both Goneril and Regan and attempts to play them off against each other. His mother died during childbirth.
