Tuesday, May 19, 2020

The Wisdom of King Lears Fool in Shakespeares King Lear...

The Wisdom of King Lears Fool in Shakespeares King Lear King Lears fool is undoubtedly one of the wisest characters in the play. He is not only able to accurately analyze a situation which many other characters are blind to, but he is also able to foreshadow the actions of many characters and many other incidents to come. The main instruction the fool gives to the king is to beware of doing things that are unnatural, such as giving his inheritance, (splitting his kingdom among his daughters) to his daughters before he his dead. By doing this unnaturally, Lear must face many adverse consequences, such as losing his identity, self-worth, and respect from his daughters. Many connections between the fool and Cordelia, Kent†¦show more content†¦-More clearly, the Fool is warning Lear that giving up his Kingdom (a necessity for Lear) before his time was unwise. 2. Then tis like the breath of an unfeed lawyer; you gave me nothing fort. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle? (I, IV, 127.) -The Fools question to Lear Can you make no use of nothing#8230; is not really a question concerning what Lear has given the Fool, but a direct question of Lears life. He had given away all he had to his daughters, which meant he literally had nothing. What the fool meant is that having nothing, he (Lear) cannot expect to make anything of it. -The Fool is pointing out to Lear the obvious foolishness in giving away all he had to his two undeserving daughters. -Ironically, Lear truly is the fool in this story, and even more ironically the Fool is one of the wisest characters. 3. That lord that counseled thee To give away thy land, Come place him here by me; Do thou for him stand. The sweet and bitter fool Will presently appear: The one in motley here, The other found out there. (I, IV, 138.) -The Fool is showing the error in Lears way. 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