Edgar's Soliloquy Analysis

The heroes Hamlet and Edgar, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and King Lear, respectively, are young aristocrats threatened with overwhelming decisions that hold the fate of their kingdoms in the balance. A ghost claiming to be his late father has just visited Hamlet and accused King Claudius of a murder that Hamlet must avenge, while Edgar, betrayed by Edmund, is now on the run from the law. In order to resolve their dilemmas, Hamlet and Edgar each decide to pretend to be mad. The passages in which they make their decision characterize them: Hamlet doubts everything and Edgar trusts too much. This manifests in their opposite actions (or lack thereof) and opposite outlooks. Hamlet hesitates, and resents this, while Edgar readily faces the situation
Though Edgar stands alone onstage and does not have anyone to confide in, unlike Hamlet, Edgar’s blind acceptance contrasts Hamlet’s passive doubt. Edgar reveals he “heard [him]self proclaimed” an outlaw, according to his brother Edmund and “by the happy hollow of a tree / [he] Escaped the hunt” (King Lear 2.3.1-3). Here, this illustrates Edgar’s naïve nature because he immediately believes his brother’s lies with question. Of course, Edgar does not know about Edmund’s treachery, but he surprisingly does not defend his father, Gloucester, who has been nothing but loving and generous to both sons. His quick response demonstrates his facility for
Doubt characterizes Hamlet while trust characterizes Edgar. In fact, the two characters even mirror each other in actions and feelings: Hamlet’s passivity and pessimism contrast Edgar’s activity and optimism. The ironic significance of their most prominent traits, doubt and trust, is that these traits ultimately lead to the downfalls of their kingdoms. Hamlet’s failure to come up with a plan quickly enough results in innocent deaths, while Edgar’s failure to see through his brother allows Edmund to continue his deceitful