In the Shakespeare play, King Lear, characters such as Kent and Edgar change their identities. Kent disguises himself in order to continue serving Lear, while Edgar disguises himself in order to save his life. The changing of appearance and mannerisms definitely change the two character’s physical identity, but what about their inner identity. Do Edgar and Kent truly change who they are or are they hold the same identity throughout the play?

Lear loses his mind during the play. Although he has the same physical identity it is clear his mind is not the same as it was at the beginning. Does this mean Edgar, who changed his identity to a beggar and later a peasant, held onto more of his identity than Lear because he purposefully changed his identity? Does one lose more of their identity when their mental or physical identity is changed?

Personally I believe Lear lost more of his identity because it was hard for other characters to even converse with him as they once had. Lear never returned fully to his previous mental health where as both Edgar and Kent were able to return to their original physical identities.

The intangible identity seems more important to form and not lose in this play than the tangible identity? What else can cause the destruction of the intangible identity than the extreme pain Lear experienced in the play?