Good Ol' Edmund!

In the play King Lear, the character edmund is a conniving son of a gun. In act 1, scene 1, Edmund says only three lines. However, every single one of them present a persona of the ideal, subserviant son. He always uses the the phrases "my lord" and "sir" to indicate his (feigned) respect for the nobility surrounding him.

In scene 2, Shakespeare gives Edmund time to soliloquize and his true feelings are revealed. Edmund first expresses contempt and jealously for his brother Edgar, who is the legitimate son of Gloucester.

As to the legitimate.—Fine word, “legitimate”!—

Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed

And my invention thrive, Edmund the base

Shall top th' legitimate. I grow, I prosper.

Now, gods, stand up for bastards! (Shakespeare I, ii 19-24)

Edmund feels such jealousy for his half brother that he hatches a plot to steal his lands and inheritance. So, Edmund does what any good brother would do and tries to convince his father that Edgar is out for his blood to speed up the inheritance process. Edmund is just as much of an evil schemer as King Lear's eldest daughters, with the addition of a huge inferiority complex towards his legitimate brother.

You could say Edmund is a real................

Bastard!

(mad applause and laughter)

That's all folks! I'll be here all week!