Edgar lays forth a plan in which he will disguise himself as a Bedlam beggar, smearing dirt on his face and body, tying his hair in knots, and covering his body with a blanket. In this costume, he will be known as Poor Tom.

Now on the run from the law, Edgar decides that the only way to save himself is to disguise as a "Poor Tom," or "Tom O'Bedlam," a kind of crazy man that wanders around begging for food. Unfairly convicted, Edgar has everything good in his life taken away. He's stripped of his identity and forced into the lowest possible social position. Similarly, Gloucester trusts in Edmund's verbal disguise as the loving son wishing to protect his father from a murderous, treacherous Edgar. Again, Gloucester fails to see through Edmund's words and impetuously outlaws Edgar. It is notable that both the good Kent and the pure Cordelia lack the ‘glib and oily art / To speak and purpose not’. Scene 1. Enter Edgar ⌜in disguise.⌝. EDGAR. Yet better thus, and known to be contemned, Than still contemned and flattered. To be worst, The lowest and most dejected thing of Fortune, Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear. 5 The lamentable change is from the best; A disguise can be both a physical and personal change in identity. People conceal their identity for many reasons. The play King Lear by William Shakespeare involves the use of disguises through the characters Edgar and Kent. Edgar and Kent’s use of disguises are very important because they help develop significant themes evident in the play. Edgar lays forth a plan in which he will disguise himself as a Bedlam beggar, smearing dirt on his face and body, tying his hair in knots, and covering his body with a blanket. In this costume, he will be known as Poor Tom. 3.4 Edgar is trying to find shelter from a storm when he runs into Lear, his Fool, and Kent (also in disguise as a servant). Edgar acts completely batty to avoid being recognized. His act succeeds. Then Edgar's father Gloucester comes in – but even he doesn't recognize Edgar.

King Lear - The Element of Disguise The play "King Lear" is, first of all, a play about kingship. Lear is a trusting king, every inch a king, who in his old age brings destruction to himself, certain persons in his own circle, and to his country. "King Lear" is a play which tears off the outer coverings of human character.

Scene 1. Enter Edgar ⌜in disguise.⌝. EDGAR. Yet better thus, and known to be contemned, Than still contemned and flattered. To be worst, The lowest and most dejected thing of Fortune, Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear. 5 The lamentable change is from the best; A disguise can be both a physical and personal change in identity. People conceal their identity for many reasons. The play King Lear by William Shakespeare involves the use of disguises through the characters Edgar and Kent. Edgar and Kent’s use of disguises are very important because they help develop significant themes evident in the play. Edgar lays forth a plan in which he will disguise himself as a Bedlam beggar, smearing dirt on his face and body, tying his hair in knots, and covering his body with a blanket. In this costume, he will be known as Poor Tom.

Similarly, Gloucester trusts in Edmund's verbal disguise as the loving son wishing to protect his father from a murderous, treacherous Edgar. Again, Gloucester fails to see through Edmund's words and impetuously outlaws Edgar. It is notable that both the good Kent and the pure Cordelia lack the ‘glib and oily art / To speak and purpose not’.

The purpose of the disguises as a literary device is to open up new subplots for those characters that have been banished [Edgar and Kent]. Reinforce negative intentions by having someone in disugise to bring news Show theme that sometimes the poor are better morally than the rich Develops the theme of deception for good and for bad Edgar emerges raving as if possessed by the "fiend," or devil, in his Bedlam beggar disguise. (full context) Act 3, scene 6. then reports that Lear has gone entirely mad. Gloucester exits as Lear, the Fool, and Edgar enter, raving together. Now on the run from the law, Edgar decides that the only way to save himself is to disguise as a "Poor Tom," or "Tom O'Bedlam," a kind of crazy man that wanders around begging for food. Unfairly convicted, Edgar has everything good in his life taken away. He's stripped of his identity and forced into the lowest possible social position. Similarly, Gloucester trusts in Edmund's verbal disguise as the loving son wishing to protect his father from a murderous, treacherous Edgar. Again, Gloucester fails to see through Edmund's words and impetuously outlaws Edgar. It is notable that both the good Kent and the pure Cordelia lack the ‘glib and oily art / To speak and purpose not’. Scene 1. Enter Edgar ⌜in disguise.⌝. EDGAR. Yet better thus, and known to be contemned, Than still contemned and flattered. To be worst, The lowest and most dejected thing of Fortune, Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear. 5 The lamentable change is from the best;