In Shakespeare's King Lear, the Fools main function is to play three major roles. Discuss

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In Shakespeare’s, King Lear, the Fools main function is to play three major roles.  The first of these roles is to play King Lear’s  “inner-conscience”.  The fool provides basic wisdom and reasoning for the King at much needed times.  His second role as the Fool is to work as amusement for Lear in times of sadness and his third role as one of the only people besides the Duke of Kent and Cordelia with the ability to stand up to King Lear.  

        I plan to use these roles and other functions of the fool to examine their effect on other characters in the play and how they develop with the plot.  I will use my own knowledge and that of: Arnold Kettle, Kathleen McLuskie and … to support my thoughts on his functions.

        The fool works as the “inner conscience” of Lear throughout the play        quote        .  He informs him of his mistakes (follies)   .     quote       . The fool shows Lear the side of reasoning and tries to persuade    Lear that it was wrong to banish Cordelia.

The fool first appearance is in Act 1, scene four, after Cordelia had moved away with the King of France, due to the bad judgement of King Lear. The fool knows that King Lear has done wrong by giving all his land away to his 2 other daughters, Goneril and Regan, and tells him so in act one, scene four, when he says, “All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with.” Lines 147-148. 

The fool tries to help King Lear to feel a bit better about what is happening, by putting a humorous spin on the words he is saying.  The word he uses are placed into poems and songs to express his views to king lear. In act one, scene four the Fool sings:

Then they for sudden joy did weep,
And I for sorrow sung,
That such a King should play bo-peep
And go the fools among.

Lines 171-174.

This verse helps the fool show King Lear that dividing his kingdom was a mistake.                                                                        Another function of the Fool is to act as a narrator, pointing out the foolishness and follies occurring on around him.        Shakespeare uses the fool to provide laughter through the play. The Fool's role as an entertainment for the king allows him to influence the king. Quote                                                                It is believed that in the tradition of Elizabethan tragedy that the fool acts as the instructor to the king. We see in King Lear that the Fool constantly reminds the king of his follies through riddles and jokes. The Fool acts somewhat of a voice for the audience because we are aware of things that the king is not.

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        The fool is dressed as a poor man, which is significant, since a part of the plot is on the loss of status.  King Lear employs the fool for entertainment.  The Fool often revealed much truth during these comedic moments, when he was making jokes about king lear.                                                                                                                                                                          ...

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