Why is Everyone so Gullible?

In Act II of King Lear, Edmund shows his true deceitful nature. He uses trickery to run Edgar out of the kingdom and secure Gloucester’s inheritance. Once Edmund hears that the Duke of Cornwall is planning a visit, he decides that will be the perfect time to carry out his plan. Edmund knows that Gloucester wants to have Edgar arrested, so he makes sure that Edgar runs away. He tells Edgar that Gloucester knows where he’s hiding but he has a chance to leave while it’s dark. Edmund twists the reason of Cornwall’s visit to scare Edgar, telling him that he is coming to have him punished. Edmund then tricks Edgar into drawing his sword and cuts his own arm. Once Gloucester enters the room, he pretends like Edgar attacked him. Edmund tells Gloucester that Edgar tried to persuade him to conspire with him and got angry when Edmund refused. His trickery is all to accomplish one goal- to receive Gloucester’s inheritance. Gloucester feels so deceived by Edgar that he tells Edmund he will find a way for him to become his heir.

            Edmund’s deceitfulness also shows a lot about others. All the characters are so quick to believe Edmund, causing them to make very impulsive decisions. Edgar believes that Gloucester is angry at him and runs away without hesitation, not even stopping to ask Gloucester why he is angry. After hearing of Edgar’s “plan” to kill him, Gloucester demands that Edgar will be executed and whoever helps hide him will be punished. The Duke of Cornwall also falls for Edmund’s tricks. After hearing stories about how loyal he is to Gloucester, Cornwall decides that he wants Edmund to work for him. This is all because Cornwall believes Edmund is trustworthy and virtuous. These impulsive decisions made by Gloucester and Cornwall show that they are impulsive and gullible, since they both make rash decisions about Edgar’s death sentence without even trying to listen to his side of the story.