Act 1, Scene 4 from King Lear LEAR: Woe that too late repents!—O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? Speak, sir!—Prepare my horses. Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child Than the sea-monster! ALBANY: Pray, sir, be patient. LEAR: [to Goneril] Detested kite, thou liest! My train are men of choice and rarest parts, That all particulars of duty know And in the most exact regard support The worships of their name.—O most small fault, How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show! Which, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature From the fix'd place; drew from my heart all love And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear! Beat at this gate that let thy folly in [Strikes his head.] And thy dear judgment out! Go, go, my people. ALBANY: My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant Of what hath mov'd you. LEAR: It may be so, my lord. Hear, Nature, hear! dear goddess, hear! Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend To make this creature fruitful. Into her womb convey sterility; Dry up in her the organs of increase; And from her derogate body never spring A babe to honour her! If she must teem, Create her child of spleen, that it may live And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her. Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth, With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks, Turn all her mother's pains and benefits To laughter and contempt, that she may feel How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is To have a thankless child! Away, away! Exit. ALBANY: Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this? GONERIL: Never afflict yourself to know the cause; But let his disposition have that scope That dotage gives it.

Question

Act 1, Scene 4 from King Lear LEAR: Woe that too late repents!—O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? Speak, sir!—Prepare my horses. Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child Than the sea-monster! ALBANY: Pray, sir, be patient. LEAR: [to Goneril] Detested kite, thou liest! My train are men of choice and rarest parts, That all particulars of duty know And in the most exact regard support The worships of their name.—O most small fault, How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show! Which, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature From the fix'd place; drew from my heart all love And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear! Beat at this gate that let thy folly in [Strikes his head.] And thy dear judgment out! Go, go, my people. ALBANY: My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant Of what hath mov'd you. LEAR: It may be so, my lord. Hear, Nature, hear! dear goddess, hear! Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend To make this creature fruitful. Into her womb convey sterility; Dry up in her the organs of increase; And from her derogate body never spring A babe to honour her! If she must teem, Create her child of spleen, that it may live And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her. Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth, With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks, Turn all her mother's pains and benefits To laughter and contempt, that she may feel How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is To have a thankless child! Away, away! Exit. ALBANY: Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this? GONERIL: Never afflict yourself to know the cause; But let his disposition have that scope That dotage gives it.

Use the passage to answer the question. Which statement best describes how the motif of nature develops a theme in the passage? (1 point)
The motif of nature develops the theme of truth because Lear counts on nature telling him the truth.
The motif of nature develops the theme of betrayal because neither Lear nor his family can trust nature.
The motif of nature develops the theme of justice because Lear pleads with nature to serve justice to Goneril.
The motif of nature develops the theme of power because nature is shown to be more powerful than humans.
The motif of nature develops the theme of compassion because nature comforts Lear in the midst of his woes.

Answer 1

The statement "The motif of nature develops the theme of betrayal because neither Lear nor his family can trust nature" best describes how the motif of nature develops a theme in the passage. Lear's plea to nature reflects his feeling of betrayal by his daughters, Goneril and Regan, and his lack of trust in their actions.