l nature, which he refres to as the dull, stale, tired bed. (1.2.14) but animal vitality alone, which he refers to as the lusty stealth of nature. (1.2.12). Edmund views the accpeted laws of society as the plague of custom and the curiosity of nations (1.2.3-4) which means he sees the natural law as no more than artificial constraints imposed upon society.Based on these opinions, Edmund manages to turn his father against Edgar, Gloucester’s legitimate son. Edmund accomplishes this by writing a letter that he presents to his father as his brother’s work. In this letter, Edmund makes it seem like Edgar is suggesting that he and Edmind turen their backs on their natural and holy bond towards their father and kill him. Edmund knows that by making it seem as if Edgar is the one that is goin to break the lws of nature, he will cause problems between Gloucester and Edgar, which proves that even Edmund is aware of the sognificant of the laws of nature, only he uses it against his brother. Also, Edgar is made to inveigh against this police and reverence of age. (1.2.49) Respect, or reverence for age has its place in the accpted custom of those times, old age being revered as wisdom. Disrespect for age is held to be contrary to the natural laws. Much like Lear, Gloucester fails to see the true nature of his evil son, Edmund, and the true nature of his good son, Edgar. Gloucester first addresses both sons as being equal: “but I have a son, sir, by order or law who yet is no deare in my acount.” (1.1.19-20) but later on in the play Gloucester turns against his natural son, Edgar, and declares his illegitimate son, Edmund to be his natural boy. (2.1.98) As in Lera’s family, the natural laws are broken, both by Edmund, and to a lesser extent, by Gloucester, and as a consequence, the characters in this family are eventually destroyes as well.Perhaps the most critical aspect of nature in King Lear is the actu...
