In King Lear, the Earl of Gloucester’s legitimate son is Edgar. He is Gloucester’s elder son, while Edmund is his younger and illegitimate son.
Edmund resents the social disadvantages attached to his birth and schemes to take Edgar’s inheritance. Using a forged letter, he convinces Gloucester that Edgar is plotting against him. Gloucester then turns against Edgar, forcing him to flee and disguise himself as Poor Tom, a wandering madman.
Edgar’s disguise allows him to survive while remaining close to the unfolding crisis. He later guides his blinded father toward Dover and defeats Edmund in single combat. His actions expose Edmund’s treachery and help restore a measure of moral order after the collapse of Lear’s kingdom.
Readers often confuse Edgar and Edmund because their names are deliberately similar and both are Gloucester’s sons. Their contrasting status is central to the subplot: Edgar is legitimate and ultimately loyal, while Edmund is illegitimate and driven by resentment and ambition.