The Fool is one of the characters in King Lear written by William Shakespeare that I can’t forget. The Fool in the play has his own duties to amuse and company Lear. Is he really fools? He has no brain? The answer is he is not fool even though his name is Fool. The Fool in this play loves to sing and speak in riddles. His riddles are only to amuse people? I don’t think so. It is because in one of his riddle, he says that;
[FOOL: Winter’s not gone yet if the wild geese fly that way.
Father that wear rags
Do make their children blind,
But fathers that bear bags
Shall see their children kind.
Fortune, that arrant whore,
Ne’er turns the key to the’ poor.
But, for all this, thou shalt have as many dolors for thy daughters as
thou canst in a year]
It indicates that the Fool really knows what he talks about. He is not a fool that do not have brain but he has insight that makes him able to see the truth, the truth about Lear’s daughters and his surroundings. The Fool reminds me to Teiresias in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. Teiresias is a blind seer that able to see the truth even though he is physically blind. The Fool by William Shakespeare is portrayed as a man who supposes to be joker to amuse the king now becomes a wise man who has insight to warn Lear about his two evil daughters, Goneril and Regan. As the readers know, Goneril and Regan make Lear suffers and crazy. As a result, don’t judge a book by its cover!
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I agree with you that the fool is not as stupid as it sounds. He is actually the person that guides King Lear to humanity. In some of Shakespear's play, the fool usually plays an important role in revealing the truth indirectly. This is to let the audience know about what is going on within the play and also serves as a guide to the characters in the play.
ReplyDeleteNo matter which Shakespearean play, the fool is always my favourite character because he represents wisdom and humour mix together.
In fact, I think the fool is incredible! The fool purpose I think the fool has his name as the fool in the play probably is to show that he is not a fool! You get what I mean? Shakespeare probably trying to emphasize on the fool's level of intelligence by name him "the fool" in the play, how brilliant this idea is! Like what you and Sharon said, I agree that the fool, not only has insight that makes him able to see the truth, but he is actually the person that guides King Lear to humanity! He is a key character in the play!
ReplyDeleteFor the overall, the role he serves in the play not only to show Lear the truth but as a guidance for the audience too! I personally think that the fool is cool and I like this character so much because I think in any time,wisdom is the most important element to help you all the time. Both of you up there, do you agree with my statement?