This knave came something saucily (1.1.16-23)

KENT

I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.

GLOUCESTER

But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came something saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund?

Kent responds to Gloucester with a compliment of sorts for Edmund by calling him “proper”. We gain some insight into how Edmund outwardly presents himself: “proper[ly]”. Kent does also - and perhaps indirectly - name Edmund to be an “issue”. Furthermore, this “issue” sets up the problem that Edmund is; it is easy for us to call him a villain yet, he is sympathetic; he is even the cause of the trouble between Regan and Goneril later (a conflict which steers them to their respective deaths). He is clearly a conflicting character, something foreshadowed as of this very line. We next learn of Gloucester’s second, older, and lawfully born son Edgar. But despite Edgar being in a position of greater inheritance (seeing as he is the eldest brother and not a bastard), Gloucester seems to value them equally. It’s also clear - however - that Gloucester is pretty terrible and complimenting his son, considering the language he uses to describe him: “knave” and “whoreson” - both of which denote a mischievous, troubled man. “Knave” in particular implies machiavellianism and dishonesty. It also compares him to the “knave” (or jack) in a set of cards. This could actually be fairly significant as the “knave” is considered the lowest “court card” and one that is generally harder to score with. This almost perfectly describes Edmunds position; we could even say that he has been dealt a poor hand in life. In some games - like Karnöffel, the jack has been promoted to a higher position in a similar way to Edmund as the play unfolds. Most interesting to note is the jack of clubs representing Lancelot, a character in Arthurian legend who has an affair with Queen Guinevere. Depending on the society telling the story, Lancelot is either presented as a good or malevolent character for pursuing love or being an adulterer; this is also a rather fitting comparison (maybe Shakespeare is making an intertextual reference here?). The sibilant sound of “something saucily” creates a secretive and perhaps even sensual atmosphere to describe the lusty manner, under which, Edmund was conceived. There are some positives to Edmund’s circumstances - in comparison to Edgar’s - that Gloucester does recognise: “His mother [was] fair” and it made for “good sport”. “Good sport” does emphasise a flaw in Gloucester however: his lack of understanding towards Edmund’s predicament (something that he is punished greatly for later). It feels almost as if he’s treating his son’s birth like gambling and not with the serious care that he should provide. Interestingly, Edmund actually believes himself to be more legitimate in a sense because of the feelings of lustful love that he was born of in comparison to the strict marriage that chained husband and wife into procreating to produce Edgar. Perhaps this view is a result of Gloucester’s carefree view of the event? We then receive the first direct address to Edmund. Notably, Gloucester uses “you” rather than a more endearing term; maybe this suggests that he doesn’t truly know his son, or perhaps briefly acknowledges the amount of time Edmund has spent overseas.