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The Fool In King Lear - Online Term Paper

The Fool In King Lear

William Shakespeare's play King Lear tells the tale of the main
character who divides his kingdom between his older daughters, Goeneril and
Regan, and disinherits his youngest daughter, Cordelia. The action leads to
civil strife, his insanity, and his ultimate death. King Lear can be viewed
as a great illustration about the struggle between good and evil. Perhaps
better than any of Shakespeare's other tragedies, King Lear displays the
concept of evil most strongly.
It is believed that King Lear is an expansion of a British legend.
The legend is as follows: Lear, King of Britain decided in his old age to
divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on their expressions of
love for ...

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His youngest daughter returned with him two Britain and helped
him to regain hi throne.
Shakespeare utilized this British legend to create what is arguably
one of the greatest tragedies of all time. Shakespeare took this British
legend and conceptualized it to fit his audience. Shakespeare added the
character of the Fool as a tool in better understanding Lear. The Fool
exists as a metaphorical device in the King's path to better understanding
himself. The Fool's bitter jests ultimately show King Lear the folly of his
action. King Lear's madness and the Fool's wit and insight illustrate the
theme of the play. The theme being man's inhumanity to man in the form of
ingratitude.
Shakespeare gives the most unlikely character, The Fool, the
greatest amount of wisdom and insight. This device works well because The
Fool is a peripheral character, as such, he acts as a sought of narrator
pointing out the foolishness and folly going on around him. Shakespeare
uses The Fool to be a ...

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The Fool In King Lear. (2005, October 10). Retrieved January 22, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Fool-In-King-Lear/34626

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 10/10/2005 03:23:50 AM
Category: Arts
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 871
Pages: 4

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