Edmund is a very relatable character. He is constantly trying to override a stereotype placed on him since birth, and people from all over can relate to him, whether they be a jock, a nerd, or whosoever they seem to be. The very basic idea of stereotyping is a controversal one at best, and the role of Edmund is used as an anti-stereotypic icon. While Edmund may not have gone about overcoming his own stereotype in the best way, he went about it in such a way that he became memorable and iconic to those who may suffer similar stereotypic downfalls.
Throughout this play, Edmund plays many superficial roles that layer on top of one another and become a very deep and almost mysterious character. He plays the roles of the trusted, the betrayed, the backstabber, the lover, the hero, and the villan, and all of these slight characteristics have an underlying thread that is barely noticeable. Edmund is looking to become his own man, to create his own title, and to break out of the stereotype in one way or in another, and by accomplishing all of this, he becomes, in his own rights, admirable. He manages to throw off the shadows of both his father and his brother so that he can be recognized as separate from who they are. He sheds the title of “bastard” and becomes a multitude of others, some admirable and others less so. He doesn’t follow the stereotype of bastard in the fact that he proves himself better than his “legitimate” brother. (A1S2 lines 6&18)
Edmund was right in doing what he did because he was treated so harshly that he truly could not overcome his born title of “whoreson” (A1S1 line 24) in any other way but through cruelty itself, and this mental cruelty as given to Edmund from his father is shown when his father, himself, says “I have so often blushed to acknowledge him that now I am brazed to’t.” (A1S1 lines 10-11) If he were to try to overcome his title with niceness and forgiveness than he would be remembered as the kind bastard, rather than the kind man who did what was right. It is almost as if no matter what Edmund would choose to do for the betterment of some, others would be thinking in the back of their minds “yes, yes he has achieved greatness even though he is a bastard,” as recognized in Act 1 Scene 2 lines 6-8 when Edmund speaks of his own baseness, “Why bastard? Wherefore base? When my dimensions are as well compact, My mind as generous, and my shape as true?” Edmund had no choice but to put his plan into action in such a cruel way as to make himself known as someone other than a bastard. By becoming less of a morally right character, he opens himself to the possibility of becoming more, “Edmund the base Shall top th’ legitimate.” (A1S2 lines 20-21)
jessmichmatth 
Throughout the play it is arguable that Edmund means well but just executes his plans wrongly. I disagree, Edmund is a villain. His ideas are selfish and they are not meant to help anyone but himself. Through Edmund’s life he is treated as an outcast since he was a bastard child “I grow, I prosper. Now, gods, stand up for bastards. (A1 S2, ln 21-22)”. Because of this Edmund longs for revenge and is after one thing only, the throne.
Multiple times during the play Edmund forges letters hoping to turn his father against Edgar, his brother. Thinking that this will help him gain the throne, but it is made clear that even these false letters do not effect his fathers love for Edgar. Later in the play before Gloucester tries to kill himself he says, “If Edgar live, O bless him! (A4 S6, ln. 40)” Not even Edmunds letter can break the bond of a true and loving son. This alone makes it clear that Edmund did not have a positive impact on his father’s life.
Edmund is also the source of Regan and Goneril turning against each other. Edmund is having an affair with both sisters. The gentlemen announces that jealousy has caused Edmund’s mistress to poison her own sister, “Your lady, sir, your lady: and her sister. By her is poisoned; she confesses it. (A5 S3, ln. 228-229)” Edmund then replies, “I was contracted to them both: all three now marry in an instant. (A5 S3, ln. 230)”. Edmund does not even show the slightest emotion that death has been caused because of him. In his mind, that death just leads him one step closer to the throne.
Edmund is a deceitful character. That acts out of selfishness and greed. Edmund only cares about himself and how much he can gain through his betrayal to others. He acts only to turn friends and family against each other. By doing this so successfully they end up hurting each other more than Edmund hurts them. Making himself look innocent. Edmund is not innocent, he is the villain.
Edmund reacted poorly to the situation that he was surrounded by. He did many bad, even evil, things and yes that is wrong; however, if one were to only look at the facts rather than both the facts and the emotions of the play, than the observer would only get a partial image. Edmund set up plan after plan so that he could ascend to the throne, yes, but if he were given his birthright from the very beginning would he have to fight to become a ruler in his own right? By denying Edmund his birthright Gloucester and others began to create a man who saw only what had been taken away from him.
Edmund was a bastard child, but he was born from the same parents as Edgar, he was born out of the same love that Edgar was born out of, the only difference is the space of a few months, “For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines Lag of a brother.”(A1S2 lines 4-6) Edmund is almost given the idea of a sort of middle child syndrome, but some may think that by being the first child that this whole argument is pointless, they are wrong. The middle child syndrome is a feeling of not belonging to the family, of being lesser to the individual siblings, these children fight to receive the attention of their parents, attention that is only given to those who are worth something to the parents. Edmund follows all of these aspects, and by being labeled a bastard for so long Edmund had to find a way to become someone who is better than what he used to be and what Edgar is. As to the question of Edmund’s selfishness, there is no question, Edmund is one of the most selfish, if not the most selfish, character throughout this play. He thinks about himself and only himself, and he chooses to ignore the consequences of his own actions.
Edmund had been told over and over again about how his brother will receive the throne rather than Edmund himself, because of something that was not his fault. He had his birthright taken away from him unfairly, and then that birthright was seemingly flaunted in his face through Edgar, and through the speakings of others. After being told again and again about how he could not have the crown, about how he would not ever rule, the throne became Edmund’s salvation. It became the thing that would save him from his circumstances and most importantly save him from himself. So Edmund went to get his crown, and while this was wrong, Edmund did what was right for himself.
One of the most important questions in this play is “was Edmund a villain;” however that question is not the same as “did Edmund do what was right?” Yes, Edmund was a villain. He did horrible things that there is no repayment for, but was he wrong in doing these things? No, he was not wrong. He did what was right in a situation in which there is no “right” way, even though by doing what was right for him he harmed others. In some lights Edmund becomes the most despicable character in this play, by betraying his family he becomes a monster, but in all truth, did his family not betray him first?
Edmund did indeed act poorly to his situation, and if we take a look at the emotional and factual information in this play we would see that Edmund did have some revenge boiling in his heart. But does this make it right, does this make it okay to betray the people that mean the most to him? I think not. Just because you don’t get what you deserve doesn’t mean that he should have killed people over it. In life we often hear the phrase, “life isn’t fair.” My father says it to me almost on a regular bases. This little phrase has a lot of truth to it though. Just because someone else gets something doesn’t mean we automatically deserve it too. Just because Edgar gets the throne doesn’t mean that Edmund also deserves it.
Edgar was clearly the favorite child, but it never went into depth as to why. Maybe Edgar was the favorite because he was more loyal and respectful. Maybe Glouctester felt that Edgar was more fit to be king than Edmund. It never really says for sure, but it does prove that Gloucester felt as if Edmund was evil, he says, “Where is the villain, Edmund? (A2 S1 ln. 42)”. Villain is a harsh word that is not said to describe many people. His father obviously uses this word to have harsh connotation.
Edmund may have had good intentions to execute plans in order to gain the throne, he feels like he rightfully deserves; however, this does not change the fact that through this his father died, and murder occurred on his journey to his own death. In the end of King Lear only the good survive and Edmund does not survive. This is not a coincidence, Edmund is clearly a villain that ended up doing the wrong thing to gain what he believed he deserved, but does he really deserve it?