The weight of this sad time we must obey,
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
– William Shakespeare
King Lear, Act 5, Scene 3. Speaking from the heart, the now wise Edgar offers some hope after all the tragedy and heartbreak. Lamenting the state of the kingdom, he advocates for everyone to move forward with honesty, openness and no deception. He ushers in a new era of transparency for when he becomes king, suggesting that we stop saying what we ought to say, and express what we feel. It is an appeal for people to act with integrity and be genuine, rather than hide behind the cloaks of artifice or procedures. There is a certain irony here as Edgar himself felt the need to hide behind the mask of the mad beggar Poor Tom.