Why would Edgar choose to take on the disguise of Tom O’Bedlam, a madman and beggar? His father, Gloucester, wrongfully renounced Edgar as his son and praised Edmund as his “loyal and natural boy” whom will become Gloucester’s heir. This was because Edmund tricked Gloucester into believing that Edgar wanted to murder him. Edgar’s disguise is appropriate because he is poor and without a kingdom as he has been stripped of his social status and inheritance. In addition to being poor, Edgar is an outlaw. Edgar chooses to look like a poor man and act crazy so that people searching for him would have no idea that he is of royal blood. By taking on this extreme disguise, Edgar can stay in the kingdom so he can be near his father to whom he is still loyal. It also enables him to be out in public where he can find out what is going on and who is plotting against each other. As Tom O’Bedlam, he would not be considered a person of note and they might be inclined to talk in front of him since he was too crazy to understand what they were saying. By acting like a madman, he could learn what Edmund and others are plotting against him and thus could prevent wrongful actions.
Although the disguise of a Bedlam beggar is extreme, it is symbolically fitting. Edgar, like King Lear, is reduced to a man with no possessions or aspirations. There is no future. A man in this state is helpless; he is little more than a beast and is at the mercy of his fellowmen. By taking on this disguise, Edgar is able to befriend King Lear. King Lear relates to this horrible condition as he himself experiences the misery of being turned out in the cold without belongings or shelter. By sharing his misery with Edgar, King Lear learns the importance of compassion and treating others humanely.
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