A son for her cradle (1.1.8-15)

KENT

Is not this your son, my lord?

GLOUCESTER

His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.

KENT

I cannot conceive you.

GLOUCESTER

Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent and Gloucester continue to talk. Kent next references Edmund by asking “Is not this your son” - establishing the question of whether Edmund truly counts as a son as well as how he behaves to fit this role. The negative “not” creates a negative perception of Edmund, perhaps foreshadowing his later lack of fidelity to Gloucester (which is rather unfitting of a son). Edmund’s bastardy is also rather sympathetic - especially in comparison to Goneril, and Regan - and this is yet another concept established here. The use of “sir” and “my lord” also establishes the position of these characters clearly - if the audience has not yet caught on. Gloucester answers his question by telling the audience that Edmund’s birth was due to his “charge” - which implies force and impulse. However, despite this lusty event, it seems that Gloucester doesn’t care about the circumstances, loving them both. “Blushed” here reinforces the promiscuity of the circumstances but it is replaced in the next line by “brazed” (meaning coated with brass). Brash being an alloy is solid, suggesting that Gloucester is secure in his sexual life now. Brass is made of two other metals and can, therefore, be considered impure. This mix of different metals could metaphorically represent impurity of Edmund’s birth, however, Gloucester seems to value this state (perhaps even recognising the strength that bastards can have); perhaps this is another way of showing Gloucester’s love for his son regardless of unfortunate circumstances. Kent replies stating that he “cannot conceive” him. This would naturally mean that he doesn’t understand and the speed with which he says this establishes him as an honest man. “Conceive” also naturally denotes the concept of giving birth and therefore could imbue Kent with a sort of purity. Gloucester follows by taking the latter meaning and explaining that Edmund’s “mother could” indeed conceive. He uses isocolon to juxtapose his son to the promiscuity of sex before marriage. This extract ends with the question: “Do you smell a fault?”. Implying that was a mistake (however the fact that it is presented in the form of a question makes this uncertain). It can also be taken to mean something far cruder: “fault” can mean a crack in the earth - which may metaphorically suggest female genitals. If this is the case then perhaps Gloucester is implying that the stench follows Edmund even now.