Nature tends to come up a significant amount in King Lear, and I cannot help but be drawn to it. It perplexes me as to why Shakespeare portrays the characters with this heavy reliance on nature. Throughout Acts I, II and III it is prevalent in both minor and major ways but one particular part is in Act III, scene III.
In this scene, it is to be shown that the fool and Lear are stuck outside during a terrible storm. The irony of the situation is clear. It seems that the weather, a part of nature, is required to contend to the events that occur in the play. So it could almost be foreseen that the weather would be bad at this point. Of course it has to be dark and stormy out as the kind is locked out of his house. It could not work any other way. If Shakespeare had written that the weather was that of a nice spring day with flowers blooming and birds chirping, he would not capture the outrage that Lear was experiencing. Nice weather would not fit in this situation.
I believe that this portrayal of irony pertaining to nature and events that occur tie into my idea about the concept of nature vs. fate. Shakespeare writes his plays in a specific way to clarify what he wants to be highlighted in the play. He wants to display that Lear is angered and this is a crucial time within the act; therefore, he plays up the aspect of nature. He strengthens his point by backing it up with an occurrence in nature. In this way, Shakespeare also has his characters rely on nature for events that take place within the play. The characters rely on nature as almost a safety net. They blame nature for what happens to them instead of focusing on the fact that it might have been an act of fate. Shakespeare is able to manipulate the characters in King Lear to rely on nature in order to highlight the significance of what he is portraying. He uses the concept of imagery to signify that Lear is not happy and to foreshadow upcoming events due to Lear being locked outside.
I agree that nature is significant in King Lear, but I believe it goes a little further than just the weather; it also includes all things "natural." The second plot to Shakespeare's King Lear revolves around Edmund the son of Gloucester and discusses the idea of nature vs. nurture. Although Edmund was not born the natural way, he has been brought up by Gloucester, and is therefore considered his son by nurture. But, Edmund has always been looked down upon as the bastard because of the importance the story puts on the 'natural' way of things. This ostracism, due to his unnatural birth, leads Edmund to plot against his 'natural' brother. The word nature is used often throughout the play, with several different meanings to stress the importance of nature by repetition. The scene you talked about, with King Lear in the storm, is a perfect example of nature winning over Nurture. Because King Lear willingly handed over his power to his daughters, he has nurtured (or created) the predicament he now finds himself in. He will not allow himself to be defeated by what he had created, and instead looks towards nature for his defeat. His shouts into the wind are clear evidence that King Lear would rather be conquered by nature than what he himself had developed. He state, "I tax not you elements..I never gave you Kingdom, called you children; you owe me no subscription" He emphasizes his desire for nature to be his final vanquisher.
ReplyDeleteNature plays a major role in King Lear, and actually in most of Shakespeare’s plays. He uses the storms as a symbol of a character’s angry or negative emotions, and also uses the bad weather as a foreshadowing of bad events to come. Conor, I agree that there is more of a depth to nature than meets the eye. After Mr. V mentioned the significance of nature, I could not help but notice the words “natural” and “unnatural” being mentioned in different context repeatedly, and I know that was not accidental. Shakespeare, through his play which was written during the Renaissance period, makes a statement about the extremities of traditional viewpoints and beliefs.
ReplyDeleteDuring this time it was considered unnatural to be born a bastard, Edmund states, “Why bastard?...When my dimensions are as well compact, My mind as generous, and my shape as true, As honest madam's issue?” He displays his dissatisfaction with society’s viewpoint of “unnatural” conception and pregnancy out of wedlock. I feel Shakespeare wrote this play as a disagreement with society’s attitude toward things that are natural and unnatural.