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The Character of the Fool in "King Lear", 2002.
A look at the contribution the character of the Fool makes in Shakespeare's play in terms of his influence over plot and other characters.
1,915 words (approx. 7.7 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 61.95
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Abstract
This paper looks briefly at the background of a fool/court jester in history and gives a brief history of King Lear. It looks closely at the Fool's character and his interactions with the other characters of the play, especially his relationship with Lear. The paper discusses the fool's function of comic relief, his function as the teller of Truth, and as Lear's conscience and reason.
From the Paper
"The Fool in King Lear is often a misunderstood presence. In the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, shortened versions of the play omitted the character altogether. In Elizabethan times, the role of a fool, or court jester, was to professionally entertain others, specifically the king. Many of the fool's quips and riddles were made at the expense of the king, and this is depicted in King Lear. In Act 1, Scene 4 Goneril refers to the Fool as "?all-licensed fool?"(1.4.191), highlighting the fact that because fools hold a special license they are allowed to say things to their superiors that anybody else would be punished for. When the Fool tells Lear what he thinks of him, Lear threatens him with the whip if he goes too far: The Fool in King Lear is often a misunderstood presence. In the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, shortened versions of the play omitted the character altogether. In Elizabethan times, the role of a fool, or court jester, was to professionally entertain others, specifically the king. Many of the fool's quips and riddles were made at the expense of the king, and this is depicted in King Lear. In Act 1, Scene 4 Goneril refers to the Fool as "?all-licensed fool?"(1.4.191), highlighting the fact that because fools hold a special license they are allowed to say things to their superiors that anybody else would be punished for. When the Fool tells Lear what he thinks of him, Lear threatens him with the whip if he goes too far."
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The Fool in "King Lear", 2006.
Explores the role of the Fool in Shakespeare's tragic play, "King Lear".
1,059 words (approx. 4.2 pages), 0 sources, $ 37.95
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Abstract
The Fool in William Shakespeare's "King Lear" is often mistaken as foolhardy, but everything he says has a deeper significance and greater truth. Since he is the court jester, the audience assumes that the Fool's main purpose is to entertain us. The paper shows that the Fool's dramatic function is not to humor us, but to tell King Lear the truth through his metaphoric rhymes and jests. The Fool is a representation of King Lear's psyche. The paper explains that when the Fool disappears after Act III, scene ii, what is left of King Lear's stable mentality quickly disintegrates. The relationship between King Lear is not one of master and servant. The Fool could be considered King Lear's subconscious; he has perceptions the King Lear does not. With his knowledge, the Fool tries to teach King Lear how to reason out the truth for himself.
From the Paper
"The Fool states that King Lear was wise in a time when he did not need it as he doe now. King Lear was a wise King but when his wisdom was greatly needed he did not apply his knowledge. The Fool states that he is merely a Fool, but he would rather be a Fool than a befallen King. He strives to inform Lear of how adverse his situation is, but King Lear still does not fully comprehend the Fool's metaphors. Before King Lear decided to see his other daughter, Regan, the Fool warns King Lear that Regan's reception will be similar if not worse than Gonerils'."
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The Fool in "King Lear", 2002.
A discussion of the function and effectiveness of the character of the fool in William Shakespeare?s ?King Lear?.
1,440 words (approx. 5.8 pages), 0 sources, $ 47.95
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Abstract
The paper examines how "King Lear" is an epic tragedy, which has been passed down through generations as a masterpiece. It looks at how the mastery does not lay in the character of the work?s anti-hero, but in the lowliest servant in the kingdom, the King?s fool. It evaluates how because the tragedy is so thick, the fool is needed to provide the leverage the audience needs in order to still obtain a lesson. It analyzes how the fool never ceases to be obvious and blunt with the King and how he is the only one who can do this without being offensive.
From the Paper
"When discussing how well The Fool aided the King in both the realization and potential correction of his mistakes, we must see the final product of his work throughout the play, which is solely the task of opening his master?s eyes in hopes of changing his behavior. Of course, how much could Lear have rerouted his inheritance through a more sensible direction, such as giving his land all to the daughter who loved him most, Cordelia, so as not to break up the kingdom, once the initial damage was done? This would have been nearly impossible to wholly correct, and is what makes the play a sure tragedy. It can be seen how effective The Fool was by his final sightings in Act III, scenes ii, iv, and vii, because as the play proceeds, more and more of his character, and Lear?s character are shown, it is just like getting to know a friend, who at first may seem like a simple person to figure out, but who in reality has several layers of depth."
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The Fool in "King Lear", 2006.
Examines the contribution of the Fool in William Shakespeare's play, "King Lear".
1,882 words (approx. 7.5 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 60.95
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Abstract
The parallel stories of Lear's and Gloucester's sufferings at the hands of their own children reflect anxieties that would have been close to home for Shakespeare's audience. This paper explains that many of William Shakespeare's plays feature a clown of some sort, and "King Lear" arguably has two such clowns: the Fool himself and Edgar in his later disguise as Tom O'Bedlam. This essay focuses on the character of the Fool in the play, and how he can be compared to Cordelia. The author of the paper considers the contribution he makes to the play and his importance to the play as a whole in terms of the influence he has over events and other characters. The paper concludes that "King Lear" would not be the same without the character of Fool.
From the Paper
"The word 'pined' again makes the Fool sound like a dog or puppy and suggests that there is some sort of connection between Cordelia and the Fool. They are linked in the text emotionally not only because the Fool is clearly upset when Cordelia is banished, but also because they are closest to Lear and loved most by him. It is noticeable that Cordelia and the Fool do not appear on stage at the same time at any point in the play."
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The Fool in "King Lear", 1994.
A focus on his relationship with Lear and his roles as a commentator and vehicle for the central theme of deceit vs. self-knowledge.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, $ 39.95
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From the Paper
"This study will discuss the Fool in Shakespeare's King Lear, focusing on his dual role as a commentator who furnishes clues to the meaning of the play, and as a character whose nature carries a vital part of the central theme. The Fool serves both roles well simply because he is generally not taken seriously by the other characters. This failure to heed the Fool's truth is expressed primarily in the character of Lear. The Fool is more tolerated than engaged by Lear, and this detachment allows him to both give a running commentary on the action and its deeper meaning, and serve at the same time as an essential character whose honest but "foolish" nature addresses a vital part of the play's theme of self-delusion.
The play's theme focuses on the lack of self-knowledge (and the lack of knowledge of the true characters of offspring) as..."
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King Lear and the Fool, 2002.
An examination of the characters of King Lear and the Fool and how character determines conduct.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 1 source, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the concept of how "character determines conduct", or how the personal qualities of the individual is reflected through their behavior. The text used to demonstrate this theme is Shakespeare's "King Lear", where the characters of Lear and the Fool are analyzed.
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Court of King Lear: Who is the Fool?, 2005.
A look at William Shakespeare's 'King Lear' with specific focus on the role of the fool.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 6 sources, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper reviews the role of the fool in the play 'King Lear' by William Shakespeare. According to this paper, the fool is not only the vehicle of comic relief, but also delivers an important philosophical and political message.
From the Paper
"FOOL [fool] or court jester, is a person who entertains with buffoonery and an often caustic wit (FOOL). The Fool appears often in Shakespeare's work, but nowhere is it more notable than in King Lear. For some, the character merely offers a sort of comic relief from Lear's increasingly tragic existence ("Comic Relief in King Lear"), while other critics see the Fool as an important philosophical and political statement (Bate). [King Lear] moves from a theoretical and philosophical inquiry into deep causes to a practical faith in the surface of human actions and a trust in the wisdom to be gained from immediate experience" (Bate). In addition to the debates surrounding the role of the Fool in King Lear, critics are unsure of which character the Fool is most closely connected (Bate)."
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King Lear's Transformation, 2003.
An analysis of how King Lear's character transforms from a controller to one who is controlled, in William Shakespeare's, "King Lear."
945 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 0 sources, $ 33.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes King Lear's transformation of character in William Shakespeare's tragic play, "King Lear." It shows how King Lear's all-too-human reaction to disrespect from within his own family forces a metamorphoses, a turning point, that transforms a controlling man into one who is controlled. The paper discusses the progression of the play and of the power of the character of King Lear.
From the Paper
"Unfortunately, Lear does not realize that he has made terrible decisions until his entire kingdom crashes down upon him. Only after he has lost all of his power and land does Lear recognize the fallacy of his judgment and change his character into a caring human being. The loss of one's power base and one's possessions in the later years in life is a typical transformation that takes place for the elderly. They must rely on their children to care for them with their best interests at heart. The failure of children to consider the best interests of aging parents can be disheartening to the aging person. The parent becomes the child, but often cannot successfully fulfill that role. Like Lear, they die of a broken heart."
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Justice in "King Lear", 2002.
An analysis of King Lear's sense of justice in the four trials within William Shakespeare's "King Lear".
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 1 source, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper will discuss the four trials in Shakespeare's play "King Lear" and discover if King Lear possesses any justice in the his participation over the trials. By analyzing these episodes that tell us how Lear plays the judge, we can see how he behaves in the scope of justice and what that means to him. An analysis of the motives in his judgment will be brought forth and revealed in the way that he plays king and judge in this play.
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Shakespeare's "King Lear", 2005.
This paper analyzes extensively the character of King Lear in Shakespeare's tragedy, "King Lear".
4,240 words (approx. 17.0 pages), 5 sources, $ 112.95
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Abstract
This paper argues that King Lear is driven by a desire to validate himself independently from his noble status and that his natural combativeness brings about his own downfall. The author asks why, in the first place, does King Lear give up the throne and answers that he is beginning to realize his office is a separate entity from himself and that he is having a sort of belated mid-life crisis. The paper relates that Lear changes because, throughout the play, he finds the validation for which he has been searching and can now accept the love that Cordelia offers freely, the same love that he attempts to extort from her at the beginning of the play.
From the Paper
"As early as the first scene, Lear can be seen struggling with his roles as king and father, and how his failings as one overlap with the other. As the play opens, Lear is secure, if not necessarily successful, in his position as king, but he has decided to abdicate the throne to his daughters and their husbands. He does so by staging a ?love test?, wherein he asks his daughters which one of them loves him most and awards them a portion of the kingdom in relation to their answers. Cordelia?s refusal to flatter him causes him to explode, banishing her and his trusted advisor Kent, and setting the play in motion. This scene introduces many important ideas that will recur throughout the play, and is the most important for understanding Lear?s character."
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Poor Character Judgment in "King Lear", 2008.
A analysis of King Lear's poor character judgement in William Shakespeare's play, "King Lear."
1,108 words (approx. 4.4 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 38.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes a personal life evaluation of the blindness of poor character judgment in relation to William Shakespeare's "King Lear." It specifically discusses the poor character judgment of King Lear by not choosing Cordelia to take over his empire and invariably leaving his domains in the hands of his two corrupt daughters, Goneril and Regan. It also presents the writer's own personal experience with relation to the "blindness" of poor character judgment.
From the Paper
"In conclusion, the arrogance of age is one example in my life where I had made a 'blind' choice because I assumed an elder superiority over rational judgment. Much like king Lear, I had chosen the wrong persons to inherit a valuable asset, which invariably ended in a tragic and destructive way. King Lear had lost his ability to rule, just as I had lost my old car to an irresponsible cousin. In this manner, I was blind because of my arrogance in assuming that those that respect my status as an elder would be more responsible. King Lear also made this mistake by allowing his superficial and usurping daughters to inherit his kingdom over the far more honest and noble Cordelia. This is how my own life experience was blind the truth in relation to King Lear of William Shakespeare's tragic play."
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King Lear, 2005.
An analysis of William Shakespeare's presentation of the character of King Lear.
2,395 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 0 sources, $ 73.95
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Abstract
This paper is an exploration of the presentation of the titular character in the play "King Lear", from a wide overview of his disintegration and changing role, to analysis of specific quotes from the text which give us insight into Shakespeare's intentions. It covers Lear's presentation in the first act, and how his language, introduction and interplay with the other characters is designed by Shakespeare to make him a figure of status and significance, then considers the role of characters such as Cordelia, the Fool and Gloucester in providing us with more insight into Lear's true nature. There is close analysis of Lear's use of language, and how Shakespeare crafts this to reflect the King's shifting mind state over the course of the play.
From the Paper
"Shakespeare presents Lear in the first act as having his own secret agenda. he admits to having a 'darker purpose' and explains his 'fast intent' to the court. The phrase 'darker purpose' hints that Lear masks his true objectives behind a more cautious public agenda. Shakespeare portrays Lear through such comments as a sharp King who considers his position carefully in vital matters, a man who reveals his thoughts only when he deems it to be necessary - who plots his every action. This presentation will fall in sharp and deliberate contrast with Lear's behaviour later in the play, when he sticks stubbornly to a single, unwise agenda and uses desperate tactics to try to enforce it."
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Nahum Tate?s "King Lear", 2005.
This paper compares Nahum Tate's "King Lear" with Shakespeare's "King Lear" upon which Tate based his version.
1,910 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 60.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that Nahum Tate's idea was to adapt Shakespeare to suit the taste of 18th century restoration theatergoers; thus, Lear no longer dies, Cordelia marries Edgar, the monarchy is restored and order once again reigns. The author points out Lear's suffering, which in Shakespeare's original play denotes the nature of humanity and the tragedy and misunderstanding that often accompany human life is completely lost in Tate's rewritten version, especially in terms of the ending. The paper reveals that the use of language by Tate and by Shakespeare also differs significantly; whereas Shakespeare believes in the reductive power of language in its simplest form, Tate's philosophy leans more towards the elevated forms of language hence the greater effect of Cordelia's simple statement in the Shakespeare play.
From the Paper
"Other significant differences between the two versions include the roles of the specific characters. Edgar, for example, takes the role of Cordelia's suitor from the beginning of Tate's play, whereas in Shakespeare he never pursues the girl, but does become king at the end of the tragedy. His role in both Shakespeare's and Tate's plays is to restore justice, but in different ways. In Shakespeare's play, his role is tragic. Because of the betrayal by his brother, Edmund, who attempted to dishonor him in his father's eyes, Edgar is obliged to disguise himself. He thus pretends to be a demonic madman in order to escape his father's men. As such he also serves as a parallel for King Lear's madness, and gives him somebody to identify with during this difficulty. Edgar thus has a redemptive function here. In Tate's play, his redemptive function is mainly focused upon Cordelia and eventually the kingdom."
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King Lear, 2001.
This paper is an analysis of Shakespeare's play, "King Lear."
780 words (approx. 3.1 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 27.95
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Abstract
This paper is an in-depth analysis of the character of King Lear in William Shakespeare's play, "King Lear." The author examines how the king's relationship with his daughters leads to his lost dignity and his ultimate downfall. The two main themes that run through the play are loyalty and betrayal and their effect on the dignified character of King Lear.
From the Paper
"The play relates how the king, growing old and tired, decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia - so long as they profess their love to him in a way that convinces him of their loyalty to him. the king, to whom the years have granted more vanity and less wisdom than he needs, listens with eagerness to the overblown professions of love by his older two daughters, but fails to understand that it is Cordelia, who loves him according to her bond but neither more nor less, who is truly loyal. It is his youngest daughter who understands throughout the play -- as the king does only in the end -- that loyalty to others springs only from being true to oneself. What the king must also learn -- and we in the audience along with him -- is that dignity is also gained only by being true and loyal to oneself."
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Shakespeare's "King Lear", 2006.
A look at the theme in William Shakespeare's play, "King Lear" about the lessons learned from death and aging.
1,586 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 51.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the theme of death and old age in William Shakespeare's play "King Lear", explaining that it is an important theme because it educates us about life and serves as a catalyst for King Lear's transformation. The paper further explains that King Lear would not have become the man he was at his death had he not experienced the turmoil, pain and suffering that old age and death had introduced into his life.
From the Paper
"This passage reveals something significant in King Lear's character--a complete turnaround. What he once thought was important, including the trappings of royalty, is not. What we see in this scene is a man resigned to happily spend the rest of his days in prison as long as he has the love of his daughter. Their reconciliation proves that peace can be discovered in the worst of circumstances. Because of their experiences, King Lear and Cordelia are changed throughout the course of the play. Of course, this is more prevalent with King Lear, who seems to find utter contentment in catastrophe."
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