The Fool in King Lear: Comic, Tragic, Sarcastic, and Reasonable Roles

This research tackles the Fool’s figure in King Lear by William Shakespeare through his comic, sarcastic and reasonable roles. The Fool as a clown clearly responds to the mixture of the audience at that time, incorporating clowning, social critique, humor and sarcasm. The Fool in King Lear is one of the characters who spurs to speak the truth to Lear, even when those truths are sore or painful. Through his humorous and often mocking comments, he provides a critical viewpoint on Lear’s decisions, especially his choice to divide the kingdom and outcast Cordelia. The role of the Fool emphasizes that the clowns serve to provide comic and ironic relief for making sense of the world. The words of the fools are often matching in all Shakespeare’s plays.