King Lear

In King Lear, Nature is a huge theme. I think the most significant use of the word nature is as Edmund is dying. He admits that his nature is evil, but that he will still try to do good. This separates his choices from his natural tendencies. I think Shakespeare does this because he feels that human's nature is changeable. Although this form of nature is not physical which is what I was originally analyzing, I think it applies very well to my question. I think the same reason explains both separations. I think that humanity as a whole believes, or wants to believe that we are more than just animals, that we are more than just impulse and response. We feel we have the agency to choose actions that go against our impulses. This is what allows for us to have morals. Our ability to think through choices and then choose an action that does not just help our self, but helps others. This seems to be a major theme of King Lear. So many characters choose to desire self gratification and success rather than caring for others.But the two characters who remain loyal to others even through being banished, and the two that remain alive at the end of the story. This shows that Shakespeare values selflessness. Selflessness is the ability that we have beyond our nature.
"Allow not nature more than nature needs,
Man’s life’s as cheap as beast’s"
"Nature thou art my Goddess"

"some good I mean to do, Despite of mine own nature:"