Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
King Lear - The Role Of The Fool - Online Paper

King Lear - The Role Of The Fool

In Shakespeare’s, King Lear, the Fool plays three major roles. One of these roles is of an "inner-conscience" of Lear. The Fool provides basic wisdom and reasoning for the King at much needed times. The Fool also works as amusement for Lear in times of sadness and is also one of the only people besides the Duke of Kent and Cordelia who are willing to stand up to the King.
The Fool works as the "inner conscience" of Lear throughout the play. The Fool shows Lear the side of reasoning and tries to persuade Lear that it was wrong to banish Cordelia. The Fool only first appears in Act 1, scene four, after Cordelia has moved away with the King of France. The Fool knows that ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

mad. This shows that the Fool is Lear’s view of reasoning because when a person goes insane they cannot think straight or reason and therefore after act three there is no need for Lear to have a Fool as he is mad.
The Fool also tries to help Lear to feel a bit better about what is going on by putting a humorous spin on the words he is saying. The Fool uses poetry and song to get his view across to Lear. In act one, this is visible in numerous ways. For example, in scene four the Fool sings:
Then they for sudden joy did weep,
And I for sorrow sung,
That such a King should play bo-peep
And go the fools ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.

Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE:

APA
MLA
Chicago
Turabian

King Lear - The Role Of The Fool. (2004, October 6). Retrieved February 22, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/King-Lear-The-Role-Of-Fool/15465

"King Lear - The Role Of The Fool." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 6 Oct. 2004. Web. 22 Feb. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/King-Lear-The-Role-Of-Fool/15465>

"King Lear - The Role Of The Fool." Essayworld.com. October 6, 2004. Accessed February 22, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/King-Lear-The-Role-Of-Fool/15465.

JOIN NOW

Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays

PAPER DETAILS

Added: 10/6/2004 08:29:00 AM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 355
Pages: 2

Save |

Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS

Save and find your favorite essays easier