"King Lear"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the "fool's" role in "King Lear." According to the author the "fool" holds three very important purposes in the play, he represents the inner-conscience, provides advice and basic reasoning for the King, and also entertains the King with his witty and sometimes foolish banter.

From the Paper:

"While these roles are clear, the Fool has little impact on the outcome of the play, and could very easily be removed from the story all together. In doing so, much of the lighthearted side of this tragedy would disappear, which may have been Shakespeare's main purpose in ever including the Fool as a character. Time and time again, the Fool tries to tell King Lear what a grave mistake he has made by selecting Regan and Goneril as his heirs. Shakespeare uses such unusual methods of oration through the Fool. The Fool is not ignorant, nor is he the one who is behaving foolishly, but he uses humor instead of sternness to point out his King's mistakes."

More papers on "King Lear":

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• Analytical Essay # 36062 : "King Lear"
• Analytical Essay # 4576 : "Madness in "King Lear"

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