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Cordelia from this familiar space and marks her as a stranger; thus, he imposes a temporary halt
in the relationship in that he no longer will provide paternal care for her nor is she connected
with nature, so she is unable to obey. Simon C. Estok gives an explanation in “An Analysis of
“Home” and “Power” in King Lear” as to why Lear swore to nature to disown his daughter. He
writes, “It goes against Nature, in Lear's way of thinking, to have a child who is hostile to the
domestic spaces he imagines, a child as obstinate, silent, and inexpressive as Cordelia” (28). In
Estok’s quote, Lear’s patriarchal views and action are justified in why Lear cuts off the father-
daughter relationship. Lear continues to remain on nature’s side in explaining that “Nature is
ashamed/ Almost t’acknowledge hers” (1.1.215-16). He is following the trope that nature is
subordinate to patriarchy and because Cordelia is not following his order then nature is also
disappointed. Kakkonen and Penjak emphasize this trope that nature depends on patriarchy. They
write, “Nature means that each individual is given a specific type of character, fixed to some
degree, which limits… her responsibility because… she cannot always be in control of… herself”
(Kakkonen and Penjak 20). The authors’ explanation justifies Lear’s exclamation that nature is
ashamed of Cordelia because some type of patriarchal rule must be present since women are
unable to be always in control of themselves, which is why Lear believes their father-daughter
relationship to be nonexistent.

While Lear and Cordelia’s relationship seem to be ruined, Lear reestablishes their
relationship as he compares her to nature once more. He tries reconcile with his daughter by
placing himself in nature with her. He says,

We two alone will sing like birds i’th’ cage…
So we’ll live,…
and laugh…