Beth Theobald Paper 2.

Nature in King Lear 3/24/14 In King Lear Shakespeare uses the idea of nature in multiple ways. Not only does he use it to mean the plants and weather, he uses the word to talk about the idea of a persons personality. The problem comes when Shakespeare uses the word nature without making it one hundred percent clear as to which definition of the word nature he is using at the time. While a few definitions can be explained using context clues, William Shakespeare uses the word nature in ways that have been the topic of debate by Scholars for hundreds of years. According to the Oxford English Dictionary there are over eighteen distinguishing definitions of the word Nature along with multiple interpretations of each of those definitions. Along with those over half of them dating prior to or around Shakespeares time. In King Lear there are multiple different types of nature, the first use of the word comes in Act I Scene I where Lear is talking to his eldest daughter Goneril. Of you shall we say doth love us most? We our largest bounty may extend nature doth with merit challenge (I,i,). While this is most likely referring to the idea of Goneril being the eldest and therefore by birth and nature most entitled to the largest part of the kingdom, it could also refer to the definition Senses relating to mental or physical impulses and requirements (Oxford English Dictionary). More specifically the first section of the definition which states The power or force which is fundamental to the physical and mental functioning of a human being. The reason why this definition fits is because throughout the play King Lears mental state begins to rapidly deteriorate from a somewhat stable man into someone that is completely out of their mind. Using context clues and the idea that King Lear might not give his eldest daughter the largest some of the kingdom, her birthright, is something that could be described as

Beth Theobald Paper 2. Nature in King Lear 3/24/14 a loss of sense or unnatural. Therefore while most people would assume the idea of nature being her birthright because she is simply the eldest is not necessarily the only definition of that passage. The next time nature is used is by King Lear. The definition I think is the closest to the actual meaning is The inherent dominating power or impulse in a person by which character or action is determined, directed, or controlled (Oxford English Dictionary). which is this time the word nature means something completely different than in the first selection very close to this one. Me, recreant! Thine Allegiance, hear me!-- Thou hast sought to make us break our vow,-we durst never yet,-- and with straind pride come between our sentence and our power, - nor our nature nor our place can bear,-- potency make good, take thy reward (I,i). This definition is a little less tricky because while there are still the same amount of definitions, using the context clues the reader can weed a majority of them out. The reason why I selected this is definition is because at first I was under the impression that Lear was talking about nature in general; mother nature, or the natural world. However, upon closer reading of the context the word our stood out. At this point in the play Lear still has some of his wits and wouldnt refer to mother nature or the natural world as his. Never the less, the idea of the nature belonging to King Lear and the fact that later in the play he does lose his mind, at least partially, makes me think of how the dominating impulse of a person that is trying to get them to break the vow mentioned earlier in the passage maintains the main meaning of the sentence without altering it too much.

Beth Theobald Paper 2. Nature in King Lear 3/24/14 Another time where nature is mentioned is in Act I scene ii when Gloucester is talking to Edmund. Late Eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us: though the wisdom of nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself scourged by the sequent effects: Love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide: In cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the bond cracked twixt son and father (I,ii). The challenging part about this passage is not only are there two different uses of the word nature, there is also the idea of eclipses and sun and moon in there. However, just because those words come before the word nature in the first line doesnt mean that the first nature is meaning mother nature. In fact I believe it means The innate or characteristic disposition of a particular person, animal, etc. In recent use freq. in one's better nature: the better side of a person's character; the capacity to behave or act in a tolerant, generous, etc., fashion, as opposed to selfishly (Oxford English Dictionary). The reason why I believe that this means the character and not mother nature is because if Shakespeare were talking about the same nature, there would be no need to repeat the word and later in the passage Shakespeare writes about the function and capacity of certain things. Love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide (I,ii). These are all unfortunate characteristics of their relationships. The second nature in the passage I believe isnt actually referring to the idea of nature as an actual place where the sun and moon exist and the trees and grass grow. I believe the second nature actually means In the nature of things: in accordance with nature; (in later use also more

Beth Theobald Paper 2. Nature in King Lear 3/24/14 widely) given the circumstances or state of affairs; spec. inevitably given these circumstances (Oxford English Dictionary). The reason I think this the correct definition of nature in this passage is because there is talk of mother nature and the natural world, however they are talking about how things happen naturally. In cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the bond cracked twixt son and father (I,ii). All of these examples are In accordance with nature (Oxford English Dictionary). These things happen with people and therefore it is just within the nature of people and is something that is natural or in nature. Another reason why this connects to the rest of the plot is because eventually Edmund does betray Gloucester because its in his nature. Another reason why I believe that this is the correct usage is because this was a fairly new usage of the word, it appearing just slightly before Shakespeare was writing King Lear. The final passage for this paper where Shakespeare uses the term nature is in Act II Scene iv when Lear is talking to Regan after getting kicked out from Gonerils house. King Lear is begging Regan to let him stay and telling her she will never be as horrible as her sister. Regan, thou shalt never have my curse: Tender-hefted nature shall not give oer to harshness: Her eyes are fierce; but thine comfort, and not burn. Tis not in thee grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train, bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes, in conclusion, to oppose the bolt my coming in: Though better knowst offices of nature, bond of childhood, of courtesy, dues of gratitude; half o the kingdom hast thou not forgot, I thee endowd (II,iv).

Beth Theobald Paper 2. Nature in King Lear 3/24/14 The use of this nature is one that took me a while to puzzle through but ultimately decided on Natural feeling or affection, originally esp. that between parent and child. Now Eng. regional (north.) and U.S. (in African-American usage) and rare (Oxford English Dictionary). The reason why I picked this definition of nature is because not only do scholars believe that Shakespeare used this definition in the play Macbeth, but because the idea of this being between King Lear and his daughter, and also because according to the Oxford English Dictionary tenderhefted means set in a delicate haft or bodily frame; hence, womanly, gentle (Oxford English Dictionary). Because this means that she has womanly affection she is supposed to have a gentle heart and a nurturing side to her. In the context of the passage this makes sense. If the reader builds upon tender-hefted and sees the nature one can assume that it means nurturing nature or womanly affection between a parent and a child. Ultimately, the word nature has expanded dozens of times to hundreds of different meanings throughout its time in the English language. As a reader it is extremely hard to choose which interpretation is the correct one because each definition can change the meaning of the sentence, and if enough meanings of sentences are changed the play doesnt quite work out as its supposed to. Though people might not truly know which interpretations of the words are fully correct, I believe that based off of time periods given to me by the Oxford English Dictionary, and context clues given by William Shakespeare himself, I was able to identify what I believe are the correct definitions for my selected passages. Work Cited

Beth Theobald Paper 2. Nature in King Lear 3/24/14 Works Cited

"Nature, n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, March 2014. Web. 24 March 2014.

Shakespeare, William. King Lear (Annotated with Biography and Critical Essay). Golgotha Press, 2011. eBook. "Tender, adj. (and adv.) and n.3." OED Online. Oxford University Press, March 2014. Web. 24 March 2014.