A Revelation or Desperation?

The Malignant Scapegoats of King Lear written by Derek Cohen made many interesting points, however, one sentence in particular caught my eye: “it is it’s villains who find themselves recurring to values of good and evil, order and chaos, as they face their ends” (Cohen 373). The process of death ultimately leads to eternal rest; however, it also serves as a last minute awakening. After realizing death is approaching, Edmund experiences a change of heart; rather than commit evil wrongdoings, he is determined to become a man of virtue. In my opinion, one recognizes his or her wrongdoings and mistakes in life when faced with death. Does Edmund truly wish to become a good person? Personally, I do not think he does. Death is a reality beyond Edmund’s control. Death threatens and frightens him. Edmund’s attempt to heroically spare Cordellia’s life is done out of fear; Edmund does not know what the afterlife has planned for him. If in fact one’s afterlife is determined by the life they lead on Earth, Edmund would have to drastically change his ways. I feel Edmund reveals Cordellia’s location as a desperate attempt to redeem the evils he has committed during his life time. I do not think Edmund has truly experienced a revelation. To prove the insincerity of Edmund’s new found moral intentions, Shakespeare consciously ends the play with Cordellia and Lear’s death. Edmund’s fate in the afterlife was set and more importantly, his effort towards redemption had failed.