The Fool In The Play King Lear - PROLIFIC ESSAYS.
Lear's mood matches the intensity of nature's turbulence as he rages against his daughters' abusive treatment. The Fool attempts to reason with his king, noting that the shelter of a dry house, even one gained by losing face, is superior to a stay in the storm's fury. But Lear will have no part of submission, especially before his daughters.William Shakespeare’s “ King Lear” opens the readers’ minds by showing that there are two sides to every story. W e experience a range of different emotions from contempt to pity towards the main character, King Lear, as the play evolv es. We feel that he is an unlikable character as his negative traits such as cruelty, lack of regard for others, arrogance and foolishness are displayed.Lear likens people to animals when he excuses Gloucester for the apparent sin of adultery, arguing that human beings are no better than the lusty wren and “the small gilded fly.” Mourning Cordelia’s death, Lear wonders why a rat or dog should have life while his own young, extraordinarily wise daughter should be murdered without warning.
The Fool assumes the role of Lear's protector when Cordelia is banished. The Fool functions much as a Chorus would in a Greek tragedy, commenting upon events and the king's actions and acting, in some ways, as the king's conscience. The Fool is the king's advocate, loyal and honest, but he is also able to point out the king's faults, as no one.Gillian Woods considers how the Fool and Poor Tom, two characters in King Lear who stand outside the social order, enhance the play's investigation of madness, civilisation and humanity. King Lear stages a total breakdown in civilisation. This is a tragedy in which all the values that we think of as protecting our sense of humanity are attacked.
The Fool in King Lear is such a character. Named Fool and the epitome of foolishness he could be heard and yet not listened to. The court jester who ironically has good sense and offers a clear sighted commentary of Lear’s actions for the benefit of both Lear and the audience.
