The Fool also tries to help Lear to feel a bit better about what is going on by putting a humorous spin on the words he is saying. The Fool uses poetry and song to get his view across to Lear. In act one, this is visible in numerous ways. For example, in 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.”
This little verse helps the Fool the show Lear again that dividing his kingdom was a mistake. The Fool throughout this act also refers to Lear as a fool himself and many times offers him his coxcomb.
The remark about poor Tom’s clothing is a good example of the Fool lightening the tone of a distressing scene in Act 3 scene 4 line 60-61. Many of the Fool’s other speeches can be played for comic effect, but it is possible to stress the ‘bitter’ rather than the witty fool. When he first appears in the play the Fool is extremely critical of Lear: ‘Dost thou call me fool, boy? / All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with’ (Act 1 scene 1 line 146-148). These lines are typical of the Fool’s interaction with Lear. His sarcasm is blunt and hard hitting. The Fool’s bitterness can partly be understood by considering his role as Cordelia’s representative. A truth teller, like Lear’s youngest daughter, he pines away when she goes to France. Many of the Fool’s early cutting speeches are designed to alert Lear to his daughter’s true characters.
However unlike Cordelia, the Fool is never punished for his truth telling. He is ‘all-licensed’ (Act1 scene 4 line 196). The fool one could argue enjoys a close and affectionate relationship with ‘nuncle’ Lear (Act 2 scene 4 line 117). It is the Fool Lear calls out to when he fears he is going mad. On the heath the king considers his servant’s sufferings alongside his own. In return the Fool remains loyal. In a play where family relationships are disastrously bad, the Fool seems to play the role of the good son
The Fools role as social commentator has been linked to the prophecy he makes at the end of act 3 scene 2. In this speech the Fool comments on the injustices and corruption of Lear’s reign (Act 3 scene 2 line 79-96) and perhaps predicts a ‘better’ time to come.
Throughout the play he draws attention to the chaos Lear has caused in the kingdom by making his daughters his mothers. The implication of many speeches is that Lear has wronged the country aswell as himself.
In King Lear, there are only three people with the ability to stand up to Lear. Cordelia, Kent and the Fool. During the play Lear threatens to have the Fool whipped for what he says, when Cordelia and Kent get banished from the Kingdom for speaking their minds. This just shows the special relationship the Fool and Lear have during the play. This point is emphasized later in the play when Lear shows concern and compassion towards the Fool, “Come on, my boy. How dost my boy, art thou cold?”
In conclusion the Fool is not just a servant to Lear but is also a friend and the son Lear never had. The name Fool means nothing. He is the most intelligent and insightful character in the play and provides simple and clear reasoning for a one sighted King. The Fool is loyal to the bitter end and provides the little bits of humor in this play. He has honesty and integrity that is only found in a few other characters in the play.
