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Steve
Edgar slips into madness quickly because he's faking it. Right after he leaves, he almost gets caught, and decides to act like he's insane (Tom of Bedlam, if I recall).
My opinion: (1) Edmund is so easily successful because he is so evil-minded and determined (like Iago in Othello for a similar sociopathic character). (2) It also helps that his father falls for it so hard. Dad falls for it because of the shallowness of his understanding of love and loyalty (parallel to Lear's weaknesses) -- a central theme of the play.
My opinion: (1) Edmund is so easily successful because he is so evil-minded and determined (like Iago in Othello for a similar sociopathic character). (2) It also helps that his father falls for it so hard. Dad falls for it because of the shallowness of his understanding of love and loyalty (parallel to Lear's weaknesses) -- a central theme of the play.
Noemi Tonini
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