Discuss the role of the fool in 'King Lear' Free Essay Example.
The Fool reinforces Lear’s sense of weakness by calling him “nothing” and suggesting that Lear was wrong to relinquish the few claims to power and wealth that made him unique. Repeatedly, Shakespeare likens his characters to “nothing,” implying that human life is extremely fragile and possibly no more valuable than the life of a fly or beast.
Join Now Log in Home Literature Essays King Lear Folly of the Fool King Lear Folly of the Fool Anonymous. In Elizabethan times, the role of a fool, or court jester, was to professionally entertain others, specifically the king. In essence, fools were paid to make mistakes. Many of the fool's quips and riddles were made at the expense of the king.
Essays and criticism on William Shakespeare's King Lear - Critical Evaluation. it is in this extremity on the heath with Edgar and the fool that Lear comes to a knowledge of himself and his.
The fool is the king's advocate, honest and loyal and through his use of irony sarcasm and humour he is able to point out Lear's faults. Functioning much as a chorus would in a Greek tragedy, the fool comments on events in the play, the king's actions and acts as Lear's conscience.
The Fool mainly criticises Lear in an indirect fashion through riddle, a device used by Shakespeare to allow for the Fool’s critique of the King to exist in the piece without directly insulting Lear, something which was unthinkable in the Elizabethan Era.
Essays and criticism on William Shakespeare's King Lear - Essays.. Prior to the twentieth century Shakespeare critics tended to interpret King Lear as a conventional or classic tragedy and saw.
The Fool is the king's advocate, loyal and honest, but he is also able to point out the king's faults, as no one else can. The Fool's use of irony, sarcasm, and humor help to ease the truth, and allows him to moderate Lear's behavior. The Fool shares his master's fate, and this reinforces the impression that the Fool's purpose is to protect.