Klaus

Ceili KlausAP English Literature and CompositionMrs. PickeringSeptember 22, 2014

Fooling Around: How the Fool Functions as a Greek Chorus Shakespeare often uses literary devices to reach the audience. The Greek Chorus is a literary device used by playwrights of Greek tragedies to help the audience understand the work by observing and commenting on the actions in the play. In his play King Lear, the Fool functions much as a chorus would in a Greek tragedy and is the only character who is able to confront Lear directly without risk of punishment. The fool uses humor, irony, and sarcasm to explain Lears rash and confusing actions in the play. The character of the Fool functions as a Greek Chorus by chastising the Kings actions, commenting on the plot, and operating as Lears conscience by giving him advice.In many cases, the Fool is the most rational character in the play. Lears fool is, according to Enid Welsford, an all licensed critic who sees and speaks the real truth about the people around him. (Welsford, 1966, pg 256); and being a critic of Lears actions, he also teaches the audience about the play itself and about matters of our own lives. The Fool is always by Lears side, and continuously comments on Lears unadmirable actions. In one instance of the Fools wisdom, the Fool tells Kent that he should be wearing the coxcomb, because if he follows Lear after he has already committed so many misguided offenses, than he is more of a fool than the Fool himself: Nay, an thoust canst not smile as the wind sits, thoult catch cold shortly. There, take my coxcomb. Why, this fellow has banished two ons daughters and did the third a blessing against his will. If thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb.(Shakespeare, Act One, Scene Four, Lines 101-108)The Fool is making a commentary on how irrational Lears actions have been, and how it is foolish for Kent to follow Lear after has been stripped of all power. The King then goes on to ask who he is to which the Fool replies: Lears shadow. (Shakespeare, Act One, Scene 4, Line 237) The Fool is alluding to the fact that King Lear is just a shadow of the man he used to be. Lears impending madness and his rash decisions both contribute to the Fools statement. The Fool sees the wrongness of the Kings activities more clearly than any other character in the play and comments on the Kings actions, which shows how he functions as a Greek chorus.The fool comments not only on Lears actions, but on the actions of all the play. As Porto Alegre says in his essay, Even though the Fools criticisms and teachings focus on Lear, the King is not the only recipient of the Fools teachings in the play. (Alegre, 2012, pg 47); the Fool points out the arising problems in the plots for not only Lear, but all of England. The fool has insight that every other character seems to be lacking, and not only points out the issues of the play, but also foreshadows the main points of the plot. The fool alludes to a prophecy in a lengthy piece to Lear: When priests are more in word than matter When brewers mar their malt with water, When nobles are their tailors tutors, No heretics burned but wenches suitors, When every case in law is right, No squire in debt, nor no poor knight; When slanders do not live in tongues, Nor cutpurses come not in throngs, When userers tell their gold i th field, And bawds and whores do churches build, Then shall the realm of Albion Come to great confusion; Then comes the time, who lives to seet, That going shall be used with feet. This prophecy Merlin shall make, for I live before his time. (Shakespeare, Act Three, Scene Three, Lines 86-103)Essentially, the Fool is saying that when all of these natural processes are backwards, England will fall. Already, daughters are ruling their fathers and queens are ruling their king, and like the Fool says, England will begin to crumble. Later on in the play, this prophecy comes true as brother fights brother, sister fights sister, and tragedy ensues. In this speech, the Fool is addressing not only Lear, but the audience of the atrocities are sure to occur. By restating the plot and conflict to the audience, while at the same time foreshadowing possible dissension in the future, the Fool is once again proving his worth as a Greek chorus.While the Fools actions towards Lear can often be perceived as harsh, he is most often looking out for Lears best interests in the form of a conscience. Although Lear is significantly older than the Fool, their roles are reversed, where the Fool takes on an almost a parental role over Lear. One of the functions of a Greek chorus is to forward action in the play and to garner sympathy for the heroes, which the Fool does in his advising Lear. When Lear and the Fool are cast out by Lears eldest daughters, it is a life or death situation. The fool tries to counsel Lear: O Nuncle, court holy water in a dry house is better than this rainwater out o door. Good nun- cle, in. Ask thy daughters blessing. Heres a night pities neither wise men nor fools. (Shakespeare, Act Three, Scene Two, Lines 12-15)Although Lear ultimately ignores the Fools wisdom and advice, the Fool still serves as a voice of reason, urging Lear to put his pride aside and choose shelter over his ego. The Fool especially aids Lear in seeing clearly towards the middle of the play when Lears madness is at its worst. In his essay, Chris Wiley points out: the Fool seems more rational than Lear towards the middle of the play. Shakespeare again captures the irony of a fool being saner than the leading characters.(Wiley, pg 11); the Fool is the wisest character in the show. The Fool operates as King Lears conscience by giving him advice, furthermore contributing to his role as a Greek chorus.The character of the Fool functions as a Greek Chorus by chastising the Kings actions, commenting on the plot, and operating as Lears conscience by giving him advice. Shakespeares use of the Fool as a Greek chorus not only highlights the main points of the plot, but also illuminates the themes of wisdom in fools apparent in many of Shakespeares works. The fool is distinctly the most insightful and perceptive character in the entire show. Shakespeares literary prowess is proved by the subtlety yet clear function of the Fool in King Lear.

Works Cited:

Wiley, Chris. "Fooling Around:Court Jesters in Shakespeare." Fooling Around:The Court Jesters of Shakespeare (n.d.)

Allegre, Porto. A Study of Fools: Shakespeare's King Lear and Vladimir and Estragon in Beckett's Waiting for Godot. Thesis. Federal University of Rio Grande, 2012.

Welsford, Enid. The Fool; His Social and Literary History. Gloucester, MA: P. Smith, 1966. Print.

Shakespeare, William. King Lear. June 1993 ed. New York: Folger Shakespeare Library, 1993. 313. Print.