ize the kingdom, the meat to symbolize Lear, and the crown to represent Lear's two ungrateful daughters, Goneril and Regan. In this entwined metaphor, The Fool reiterates that Lear has split his egg down the middle and given it to the two crowns, which in turn will eat the meat. The Fool means to say that in dividing his kingdom and giving the power to his daughters, they will in turn destroy him. The Fool then goes on to tell Lear that he had little intelligence in banishing his youngest 'golden' daughter, Cordelia. While The Fool has nothing to give in terms of status, he has a great understanding of what is to pass. Similarly, Poor Tom has no status or power to speak of, but is of great importance to Gloucester. When Gloucester wishes he were dead, and plans to kill himself, it is Edgar disguised as Poor Tom who saves him:
             GLOUCESTER. There is a cliff, whose high and bending head
             Looks fearfully in the confined deep:
             Bring me but to the very brim of it,
             And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear
             With something rich about me: from that place
             Poor Tom shall lead thee. (4.1.84-91)
             Despite being cast off by his father, Edgar still remains faithful to him. Gloucester left Edgar with nothing, except his wisdom. Despite having nothing, Edgar leads a b
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