Edmund the bastard son of Gloucester thinks he is the only one engaging subterfuge. Kent is not the primary figure in disguise. And King Lear’s secret role, known to himself, is challenged by another’s. Edgar, legitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, is all these things, tricking his fellow players, arch-conspirators and would-be competitors.

Edgar appears after Edmund has revealed his plot. He is not too involved in countering Edmund’s pronouncements. When he hears that Gloucester has been convinced of Edgar’s treachery, he does not approach him, he does not for the moment fight back. He leaves with hardly a nudge from Edmund,