Ambition

Reading King Lear from the beginning I got this notion of Post-Colonialism and specifically reading Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness. Through criticism there is a connection between Edmund having similar cravings as Kurtz’s Ivory expeditions. Edmund who plans to seize his father’s nobility and the wealth that comes with it. Kurtz, raiding the jungle all on his own developing this overwhelming greed for Ivory which shall be his and no one else’s. Kurtz becomes so absorbed over its value that he desists in thinking that the Ivory be shipped to the mother country. The point here is that both Kurtz and Edmund are disloyal to nobility.

Here’s some lines pages 52-53 from the (E-book printout) of Heart of Darkness:

Mr. Kurtz . . . He declared he would shoot me unless I gave him the ivory . . .When I had a chance I begged him to try and leave while there was time; I offered to go back with him. And he would say yes, and then he would remain; go off on another ivory hunt; disappear for weeks; forget himself amongst these people - - forget himself - - you know. “Why! He’s mad, ‘I said.

The Russian was explaining to me that it was only lately that Mr. Kurtz had come down to the river, bringing along with him all the fighting men of that lake tribe. He had been absent for several months - - getting himself adored, I suppose - - and had come down unexpectedly, with the intention to all appearance of making a raid either across the river or down stream. Evidently the appetite for more ivory had got the better of the - - what shall I say? - - less material aspirations.

“I am not disclosing any trade secrets. In fact the manager said afterwards that Mr. Kurtz’s methods had ruined the district. I have no opinion on that point, but I want you clearly to understand that there was nothing profitable in these heads being there. They only showed that Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his various lusts, that there was something wanting in him - - some small matter which, when the pressing need arose, could not be found under his magnificent eloquence.”

Here’s a part from Act I Scene II where Edmund forge’s a letter under Edgar’s name. Edmund attempts to make his father, Gloucester believe that Edgar wants him dead and through result attain the wealth:

GLOUCESTER Reads
the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps
our fortunes from us till our oldness cannot relish
them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage
in the oppression of aged tyranny; who sways, not 50
as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come to
me, that of this I may speak more. If our father
would sleep till I waked him, you should half his
revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your
brother, EDGAR.' 55
Hum--conspiracy!--'Sleep till I waked him,--you
should enjoy half his revenue,'--My son Edgar!
Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain
to breed it in?--When came this to you? who
brought it?