The Use Of Motifs In Shakespeare's King Lear

The opening Act of King Lear uses the motifs of nature and the unnatural, sanity and madness, and “nothing” to reinforce the downward movement in Lear’s perception of his own identity. For example, at the beginning of the play, Lear expresses his awe at the serenity of a beautiful world: “With plenteous rivers, and wide wide-skirted meads…” (I, i, 66). As the plot moves forward, the motif of the unnatural becomes present and indicates the negative trend of Lear’s own identity. Specifically, when Lear becomes mad at his daughter Goneril for treating him poorly he exclaims: “…from her derogate body never spring / A babe to honour her!” (I, iv, 77-78). Whereas normally a father would wish well upon his children, Lear curses his daughter, and the