The role of Edgar in King Lear, Act 3, Scene 4 In Act 3, Scene 4, Edgar takes on the roles of a madman and a spirit. In the counterfeit of madness, he not only hides from an unjust death, but also serves as a character who resembles King Lear: (1) Both are deceived by the family; (2) Both are outcasts of Gloucester Castle; (3) Both are threatened with death; and (4) Both enter a form of madness. But, while King Lear actually goes mad, Edgar only pretends to be mad. As Edgar takes on the role of "spirit" (3.4.39), he reveals: (1) Edmund's moral condition, prescribing moral laws that he will break (3.4.80-83); and (2) that Gloucester will be blinded by Edmund (3.4.117). This essay will begin by examining how Edgar's role, as an outcast pretending to be mad, resembles the life and fate of King Lear, and then show how his role as a spirit reveals future events that will occur. outcast and mad, he corresponds to King Lear in four ways: (1) both are deceived by their family. Edgar is deceived by his half-brother and King Lear is deceived by two of his daughters. Edgar stammers about how Edmund has deceived him: "Who gives anything to poor Tom? Whom the evil demon hath led through the fire and flame" (3.4.51-52), and reveals his plan "to kill [the] vermin " (3.4 .51-52). And by calling Edmund a "bad devil" who had "run[d] his own shadow for a traitor" (3.4.57-58), he parallels Edmund with a devil, who is trying to make him commit suicide by placing "knives" under the pillow" (3.4.54). And as King Lear's madness begins to reveal itself after he realizes that he has been deceived by his daughters (2.4.273-286), he asks Edgar if he has also gone mad because of his daughters (3.4 .49-50). (2) The... center of the card... hom] winks" (3.4.115-117). These lines suggest that Edmund, the evil demon, will make someone's eyes narrow. And it's only a couple of scenes later that Gloucester's eyes are blinded due to Edmund's relationship in Cornwall. Therefore, Edgar's lines in this scene are prophetic and reinforce his role as a wit. This little essay touches on just a few of the important lines that fulfill Edgar's roles. as a spirit and a madman in exile in Act 3, scene 4. His lines are difficult to follow and are sometimes meaningless because he pretends to be mad. It is only when the play is over that Edgar's wisdom and insight can be understood in this scene. As a madman, his role foreshadows King Lear's fate and, as a spirit, he is able to predict Edmund's moral condition, counterfeiting madness, Edmund's wisdom and insight are shown, and Edmund's corruption is exposed.