Edmund's Conception and Nativity in King Lear

Abstract

Johnstone Parr notes in Birth under Ursa Major' that astrologers, on authority of Ptolemy, considered fixed stars in constellation Ursa Major to have same influence as planets Mars and Venus, with Mars predominant. His conclusion, after an examination of numerous astrological texts and handbooks, is that the planet Mars (whose influence predominates in Ursa Major) is a malicious worker of evil, particularly when he mingles his influence with that of Venus (who also influences through Ursa Major). There is certainly no doubt that astrological authorities would presage that one born under influence of Ursa Major would be 'rough and lecherous,' and destined to become a villain of first order.' cannot quarrel with Parr's conclusion about character of Edmund, but his statement about Mars and Venus is somewhat misleading and does not take full account of all evidence that Edmund gives us in this brief description of astrological influences. In Parr's reading of lines he does not give enough credit to Edmund's-or Shakespeare's-knowledge of astrology. Parr says at beginning of his article that we need not dwell upon that item in horoscope known as Dragon's Tail; many editors have noted its sinister influence. In a footnote he adds, We should observe, however, that Edmund does not say that Dragon's Tail is in his horoscope, but simply that his father and mother 'compounded' under Dragon's Tail-or at a particularly evil (p. 8o). This information about Edmund's conception should not be dismissed too hastily; without it, statement about Ursa Major that follows is useless for an astrological interpretation and tells us little about either Edmund's temperament or his character. Edmund's first remark about compounding is in fact as significant for constructing his horoscope as second about his nativity. Ptolemy's opinion in Tetrabiblos is that time of conception is as important to know as time of birth: