Relationship of King Lear to Nature and Comparison with Myself

King Lear does not have a pleasant relationship with nature. Early on in the play when he becomes angry at his daughter Cordelia for expressing no love for him, he swears “by the sacred radiance of sun, the mysteries of Hecate and the night; By all the operation of the orbs From whom we do exist and cease to be” (1.1.117-119). Later on, when Lear rages about the supposed ingratitude of his daughter that causes her to expel some of his 100 knight followers, he says, “Hear, Nature, hear! Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend to make this creature fruitful” (1.4.277-279). In both of these cases, King Lear invokes Nature as the agent of his deadly purposes. His view of Nature in this way shows his and his culture’s pantheism, but it also indicates that he views his own position highly. He calls on Nature not with an attitude of submission to the “gods” but with an order to bring in the troops. Lear’s relationship with Nature when he is out in the brutal storm is more puzzling. He summons Nature to show its worst saying, “blow, winds, and crack you cheeks! Rage! Blow!” (3.2.1) that it might destroy “ungrateful man!” (3.2.9). He then indicates that he is mad at Nature that she would join his “pernicious daughters” (3.2.22) against his “poor, infirm, weak, and despised” (3.2.20) self. In all of his discourse with Nature, he is almost always expressing anger, calling down curses, or swearing. I am very different from King Lear. Not only do I recognize that nature should be lowercase because it is inanimate, but I also view it much more positively because it is God’s creation. Even though nature was destroyed by the Fall, causing destruction, natural disasters, etc., it still has many facets of its former beauty and will some day be redeemed. Nature is something to enjoy and at which to marvel, giving glory to God who made it.