In the traditional sense, a fool is someone who acts slow-witted to entertain others. When you read about the Fool in King Lear, however, the term 'fool' actually becomes a double entendre. The so-called fool is incredibly witty - sometimes so much that he's hard to understand. Through it all, he manages to turn around his title from a noun to a verb that he carries out on other people; King Lear, in particular, he continually fools and makes the butt of his jokes when no other character could in even a nice way (take Kent as the prime example).
In fact, the Fool outright calls Lear a fool numerous times. "All thy other titles thou hast given away. That thou wast born with." (I.iv.153) "That such a king should play bo-peep and go the fools among." (I.iv.181) "Thou wouldst make a good Fool." (I.v.38) At first his jabs are met with shallow warnings. Disguised Kent protests that the Fool's comments are more than just jokes, and Lear warns the Fool that he will be whipped. None of these threats follow through, and by the third quote Lear responds by proclaiming his fear of becoming mad. The Fool, though he expresses a desire to be anything other than a fool, actually has power in that position: he not only is able to make fun of the king but is able to quite poignantly critique the king with a clear impact. As one of the king's closest companions after dividing his land, the Fool also has a tough responsibility. He is the only one with the power to reach the king's senses and reveal to the king his deteriorating condition. While the Fool manages the task quite deftly, that sounds a little difficult to me. You can almost imagine a little Hamlet creeping in. To Fool or not to Fool... Whether 'tis nobler for the King to suffer the slings and arrows of ignorance mighty, or to take arms against his naivete, and by opposing, hurt him?
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