King Lear Notes

Act II, Scene III

In his soliloquy Edgar explains that he realizes that a price is on his head and that he has decided to take upon himself the disguise of Poor Tom, the Bedlamite in order to escape capture.

His final words are important
Poor Turlygod! poor Tom!
That's something yet: Edgar I nothing am.
This "something" from "nothing" is in contradiction to Lear's "Nothing can come from nothing."

As Cordelia had been reduced to "nothing" by her father but turned herself into her father's Fool, so Edgar has become "nothing" and yet has turned himself into "something" - the Bedlamite, Poor Tom. This scene in the sub-plot confirms the action in the main plot.

Next scene

Back to Index to Notes
Back to Home page
Take the King Lear Quiz
Let us have your questions and comments
E-mail us - cordelias11@yahoo.com
Links to other sites
Click here to go to top of page.

Let us have your questions and comments

My Name is:
I live in:

Your comment or question

I am at:
school.
college.
university.
other.

These pages have:
given me something to think about.
helped me understand King Lear.
confused me even more.
entertained me.

More about me.
My age:
My email address:

My homepage address:

I got here:

In his soliloquy Edgar explains that he realizes that a price is on his head and that he has decided to take upon himself the disguise of Poor Tom, the Bedlamite in order to escape capture.

His final words are important Poor Turlygod! poor Tom! That's something yet: Edgar I nothing am. This "something" from "nothing" is in contradiction to Lear's "Nothing can come from nothing."

As Cordelia had been reduced to "nothing" by her father but turned herself into her father's Fool, so Edgar has become "nothing" and yet has turned himself into "something" - the Bedlamite, Poor Tom. This scene in the sub-plot confirms the action in the main plot.

His final words are important
Poor Turlygod! poor Tom!
That's something yet: Edgar I nothing am.
This "something" from "nothing" is in contradiction to Lear's "Nothing can come from nothing."