Role of the fool
English, Karly James
How significant is the role of the fool in the opening of King Lear?
In the opening of King Lear, we don’t see or really hear about the Fool until Act 1 Scene 4, to me this suggest that the importance of the Fool earlier in the play is not really significant. Although this can be seen as quite ironic as I know in Shakespearean times, there would always be a fool of some sort, who is used to enlighten the mood of the King or of the higher archie by its humour and sarcastic tone.
We first see the Fool after Kent is given money, in Act 1 Scene 4. “Let me hire him, too; here’s my coxcomb” here, the Fool offers Kent his cap, its almost as though the Fool is offering Kent his ‘coxcomb’ as Lear offers Kent money. This could be seen as the Fool mocking Lear or it could also suggest that the Fool looks up to Lear almost as though Lear is the Fool’s role model. The significance of the Fool at this point in Scene 4 is that the Fool is trying to warn Lear of what’s going to happen, so that Lear can be prepared “why? For taking ones part…I had two coxcombs and two daughters.” The Fool uses his humorous tone to insult Lear in a way that Lear will not punish him. Where it says ‘as the wind sits, thou’lt catch cold shortly’ gain the Fool is warning Lear of what’s to come, Lear will pay the price, the words ‘catch cold shortly’ suggest this. The word ‘cold’ sets a negative tone for this section of the scene. ‘Nuncle’ suggests the genuine affection the Fool has for Lear. This also links with ‘Take heed, sirrah, the whip.’ As Lear will not punish the Fool which relates to the word ‘Nuncle’, Lear doesn’t mind the Fool talking to him the way the Fool does. The Fool talks in rhyme ‘Mark it, nuncle…Than two tens to a score.’ He talks in rhyme to attack the King but also not to sound bitter and harsh to offend the King. Some critics say that the Fool talks in rhyme to disguise the fact he’s insulting the King, so therefore the Fool is offending the king in a
How significant is the role of the fool in the opening of King Lear?
In the opening of King Lear, we don’t see or really hear about the Fool until Act 1 Scene 4, to me this suggest that the importance of the Fool earlier in the play is not really significant. Although this can be seen as quite ironic as I know in Shakespearean times, there would always be a fool of some sort, who is used to enlighten the mood of the King or of the higher archie by its humour and sarcastic tone.
We first see the Fool after Kent is given money, in Act 1 Scene 4. “Let me hire him, too; here’s my coxcomb” here, the Fool offers Kent his cap, its almost as though the Fool is offering Kent his ‘coxcomb’ as Lear offers Kent money. This could be seen as the Fool mocking Lear or it could also suggest that the Fool looks up to Lear almost as though Lear is the Fool’s role model. The significance of the Fool at this point in Scene 4 is that the Fool is trying to warn Lear of what’s going to happen, so that Lear can be prepared “why? For taking ones part…I had two coxcombs and two daughters.” The Fool uses his humorous tone to insult Lear in a way that Lear will not punish him. Where it says ‘as the wind sits, thou’lt catch cold shortly’ gain the Fool is warning Lear of what’s to come, Lear will pay the price, the words ‘catch cold shortly’ suggest this. The word ‘cold’ sets a negative tone for this section of the scene. ‘Nuncle’ suggests the genuine affection the Fool has for Lear. This also links with ‘Take heed, sirrah, the whip.’ As Lear will not punish the Fool which relates to the word ‘Nuncle’, Lear doesn’t mind the Fool talking to him the way the Fool does. The Fool talks in rhyme ‘Mark it, nuncle…Than two tens to a score.’ He talks in rhyme to attack the King but also not to sound bitter and harsh to offend the King. Some critics say that the Fool talks in rhyme to disguise the fact he’s insulting the King, so therefore the Fool is offending the king in a