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The Fool in King Lear - Online Term Paper

The Fool in King Lear

In Shakespeare’s tragedy, King Lear, although a role of a certain character may be insignificant compared to others, the insights and lines of this character may still be very astute and full of insight. In this case I am talking about the Fool. The Fool is Lear’s personal comedian and is the only one who Lear allows to criticize him. When other characters say anything disrespectful they get banished, I am of course talking about Kent.
The Fool is quite possibly the only character who calls it as it is. He is funny, and often brutally honest. He tells Lear at the time when Kent shows up in disguise that if Lear “wert my Fool, nuncle, I’d have thee beaten for being old before thy ...

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it head bit off by it young. So out went the candle, and we were left in darkling.” (1.4.221-224) This is almost certainly hinting towards Lear’s impending doom. The Fool says this in response to Lear’s daughters and how Lear treats them. Not that he treats them poorly, quite the opposite, he plans on splitting up the land based on how his daughters love him. This is what the quote means by the sparrow (Lear) feeding the cuckoos (the daughters). If things continue the way they are going Lear will send the land into perpetual darkness and an almost certain time of suffering and loss. The Fool can see this, and although he calls it as he sees it, he alludes to what he means rather than just saying it straightforward. Maybe this is because Goneril is present, or maybe he knows it is something Lear needs to find out for himself.
The Fool is an interesting character. Although he seems to help Lear in the long run, I don’t think the Fool is really someone who has total faith ...

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The Fool in King Lear. (2011, April 27). Retrieved January 18, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Fool-in-King-Lear/98561

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 4/27/2011 08:58:37 PM
Submitted By: musicman17
Category: Shakespeare
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 815
Pages: 3

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