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1.2
Edmund is confident, charming, and incredibly shrewd, but remains hindered by his status as the illegitimate son. He is contemptuous of his station in life, but does not act rashly out of hatred; rather he is fiendishly thoughtful in his ambition. He is willing to risk everything to deceive his father and brother and gain power for himself, and therefore takes nothing for granted. Edmund’s monologues are not complaints, nor are they boasts. He is superior, but does not seek praise or admiration for his cunning, lest he hinder his success. Instead, he meticulously works through his own thoughts, planning for every eventuality, and sarcastically expressing contempt for society in the process. He is not plotting revenge against Gloucester for unwittingly humiliating him in the opening scene. His decision to pursue his father’s title has been made prior to his return to the kingdom. His father behavior only makes him more eager to finally carry out what he has so carefully planned for.
