EDMUND

The younger, illegitimate son of an earl. Charming in company; this is what he is like when the company leaves.

1:22Dramatic20s–30sIntermediate

The speech148 words · 5 beats

0:00 / 1:22

Off-book

Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law My services are bound.

Wherefore should I Stand in the plague of custom, and permit The curiosity of nations to deprive me, For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines Lag of a brother?

Why bastard? Wherefore base? When my dimensions are as well compact, My mind as generous, and my shape as true, As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?

Well then, Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land. Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund As to the legitimate. Fine word, 'legitimate'!turn

Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed And my invention thrive, Edmund the base Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper. Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

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Takes

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Speaking to: The audience. He likes us, which is the problem.
What just happened: His father has just introduced him to a guest as a bastard, cheerfully, as a joke he's told many times. Everyone laughed. They've gone in to dinner.
Objective: To recruit us — to make us agree that the rule is stupid before he breaks it.
The turn: 'Well then' — argument stops, plan starts.
Watch out for: Villain introductions die when played as villainy. He is right about the injustice; that's what makes the rest work.

Full work: King Lear New to the vocabulary? What’s a beat? →

More from King Lear1

LEAR1:24A king who gave away his kingdom and was thrown out by his daughters stands in the open storm and dares the weather to finish what they started. Rage is the last authority he has left.

EDMUND

King Lear · William Shakespeare · 1:22 · 148 words

Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law My services are bound. Wherefore should I Stand in the plague of custom, and permit The curiosity of nations to deprive me, For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines Lag of a brother? Why bastard? Wherefore base? When my dimensions are as well compact, My mind as generous, and my shape as true, As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base? Well then, Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land. Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund As to the legitimate. Fine word, 'legitimate'! Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed And my invention thrive, Edmund the base Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper. Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

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