King lear
King lear --The role the Fool in the Tragedy of King Lear
The Fool in William Shakespeare's King Lear is often mistaken as foolhardy, but everything he says has a deeper significance and greater truth. Since he is the court jester, the audience assumes that the Fool's main purpose is to entertain us. The Fool's dramatic function is not to humor us, but to tell King Lear the truth through his metaphoric rhymes and jests. The Fool is a representation of King Lear's psyche. When the Fool disappears after Act III, scene ii, what is left of King Lear's stable mentality quickly disintegrates. The relationship between King Lear is not one of master and servant. The Fool could be considered King Lear's subconscious; he has perceptions the King Lear does not. With his knowledge, the Fool tries to teach King Lear how to reason out the truth for himself.
King Lear is oblivious to the truth; therefore his better judgement is impaired. From the moment the Fool enter the play, he has an analogy to condemn King Lear of his foolish action:
Why? For taking one's part that's out of favor
Nay; an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thoul't catch cold shortly
There, take may coxcomb! Why this fellow has banished two on's daughters,
And did the third a blessing against his will. If thou follow him,
Thou must needs wear my coxcomb- How now nuncle? Would I had two
Coxcombs and two daughters!
(I, i: 96-103)
When the Fool offers King Lear his coxcomb, he is offering him wisdom. King Lear is unaware of his ignoble actions and this is the fool's attempt to make him realize how inadequate his actions are. In another rhyming jest, the Fool, in his cleaver manipulation of speech, tries to desperately to warn King Lear to be careful with what he has or be left with nothing:
Have more than thou showest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend than thou owest,
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest,
Leave they drink and thy whore,
And keep in-a-door,
And thou shalt have more,
Than two tens to a score.
(I, iv, 115-124)
King Lear takes the Fool's hidden intelligence for granted. The Fool is once again attempting to inform Lear that his inadequate actions will have terrible consequences. His senselessness leads to the abdication of his throne and peregrination of anguish.
The Fool makes a great effort to save King Lear from anguish. King Lear unintentionally disregards the Fool's hidden message, which help lead to his untimely downfall:
Thou was a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need
To care for her frowning. Now thou art an O without
A figure. I'm better than art now: I am a fool,
thou art nothing.
(I, iv, 187-190)
The Fool...
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