The Role and Function of the Fool in King Lear - 2999 Words

Explore the role and function of ‘The Fool in ‘King Lear The Fool in ‘King Lear is a William Shakespeare creation. Shakespeare has the ability to reveal a human character with an exceptional use of language. He allows us to see more than just words on the paper; were given a multi dimensional insight into a character. Usually his characters arent as straight-forward as black or white, they are invariably more complex. Edmund for example, its easy to present him as the villain but Shakespeare also shows us a sorry side to him as he attempts an apology before he dies. Shakespeare has given us concrete images of things that are inexpressible, such as love. To articulate a multi- faceted view of a person and present it concisely with†¦show more content†¦The Fool also likes to remind Lear that he has not only failed himself but his people too. ‘So out went the candle and we were left darkling Lear was the light of the state now he has abdicated the light has gone out and hes let his people down by leaving them in the incapabl e hands of his two daughters. Eventually the Fool gets a glimmer of hope back from Lear when he realises his mistakes. ‘I did her wrong he says about Cordelia. At this point the Fool switches back to being light hearted as he realises stressing the point would only bring Lear down. Some critics say The Fool is responsible for pushing Lear over the edge. I like to think it was necessary for Lear to go through madness so he can truly appreciate the consequences of his actions. The Fool was helping Lear to ‘see better. Finally Lears conscience catches up with him at least to an extent when he says ‘poor fool and knave I have one part in my heart thats sorry for thee. The Fools sarcasm is blunt and hard hitting, just like Cordelias truth was in the ‘love test. ‘I am better than thou art now I am a fool thou art nothing. The Fool is one of the Truth tellers in the play. Cordelia and Kent being the other two. However the fool doesnt get punished for it like the others do. This is mainly due to the way he articulates himself and what traditionally the role of the fool is. The main role of the fool was to entertain. Yet theyShow MoreRelatedRole Of A Fool Or Jester During Elizabethan Times1351 Words   |  6 PagesThe role of a fool or jester during Elizabethan times were to entertain everyone at court, especially the King. The fool would sing, dance, make jokes and make a fool of himself. In Shakespeare’s King Lear, the fool has many roles. When Lear banishes Cordelia from his kingdom, the fool in a way takes on Cordelia s role. He is not only a fool, but through his sarcasm and irony, he becomes the king s loyal advocate by pointing out the king’s shortcomings. The fool is the only one who is able to criticizeRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream And Fool1401 Words   |  6 PagesThe Shakespearean fool is a recurring character type in the works of William Shakespeare. While their individual personalities and func tions differ from play to play, the reoccurrence of the Shakespearean fool suggests that fools serve as an important institution of the Shakespearean stage. But what is the role of the Shakespeare’s fools in his works? And how do particular characteristics about these fools help them achieve this purpose? Through an in-depth analysis of Shakespeare’s arguably twoRead MoreThe Role of the Fool in King Lear Essay2177 Words   |  9 Pages Alison Dew Explore the role of the fool in King Lear. 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A legend is a story passed down through generations with some historical basis. All of this drama, and the very climax of the movie, is actually set up by the actions of the skeleton man who chases Eurydice onto the power cable which eventually killed her. The child dancers play a very vital role in this film, and help to symbolizeRead More The Importance of the Earl of Kent in Shakespeares King Lear1487 Words   |  6 PagesThe Importance of the Earl of Kent in King Lear   Ã‚   The Earl of Kent plays a small but important part in Shakespeares play King Lear. From the beginning scenes to the end we see a minor character that is used to show the values that Shakespeare believed in. Whether Kent is an example of the dutiful servant or plays the intermediary between Lear and Cordelia he is essential to the functioning of the plot.    The role of Kent is important because of the use Shakespeare has for his characterRead MoreAnalyzing the Characteristics of Kind Lear Essay4690 Words   |  19 PagesCharacteristics of Kind Lear Lear is the protagonist, whose willingness to believe his older daughters’ empty flattery leads to the deaths of many people. In relying on the test of his daughters’ love, Lear demonstrates that he lacks common sense or the ability to detect his older daughters’ falseness. Lear cannot recognize Cordelia’s honesty amid the flattery, which he craves. 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