what is the importance of the fool in king lear?

Question

this is really important due in 2mz!! just please give us some ideas so we can elaborate on them!!

Answer 1

The fool is needed to speak the truth to King Lear, as others have on the whole failed to do, to comment on the scene in an objective way and to relieve the misery of the situation, which otherwise would be irredeemably heartbreaking.

Answer 2

The fool in King Lear had a lot of different aspects towards the main story, he played an important role as a comic relief to the serious nature in which the narritive flow is cast. More importantly he played one role in which none other could do. King Lear had many profound and abstract questions for humanity to answer for him, none could do this in all the educated company that surrounded him the fool was the only honest one that although childish had an pure raw honesty that King Lear admired in his own jaded way and in my opinion envyied to a certai extent.

Answer 3

Cordelia and the fool are never in the play together. When Cordelia is not there to tell Lear the truth the job is passed on to the Fool.

We where told that you could make an arguement that in principal Cordelia and the Fool are the same person as they hold the same values in the play.

Answer 4

I did this for A level but it was a long time ago! If I remember correctly the fool is serving almost as seeing events for Lear clearly. Lear's viewpoint is blurred by his mistrust of everyone and by the poisonous input of the two elder daughters so that he cannot see the love and loyalty of Cordelia, and of course by his increasing descent into madness. The Fool is the one who see's things clearly and correctly. That is why Lear's blinding of himself is of such significance. It's only when he can no longer physically see that he finally 'sees' the truth.

Answer 5

Possibly for the same reason the fol has been used in culture from Tarot Cards to lays to paint's
On the court level he was the only one that wasalowed to make fun of the Kings Ideas , a safety valve against dangerous laws or ideologies , he could also war the king of mounting insurrection Court plots etc . and no one was allowed to challenge him because he was only THE '' Harmless Fool''
The fool reminds us of our mortality and tahat the things we do that we think will change the world in micro cosm and Macrocosm or just Vanities of the Ego .
Alas poor Yorrick, I knew him well Horatio a man of fie wit , go Tell my lady


You know the rest --- and all is silence

Answer 6

its funny because he is called a fool yet he is actually really smart unlike lear....he gives advice to the king....yet he is looked upon as stupid

Answer 7

i studied this in school. ummm I can remember one reason was just comic relief to offset against the seriousnes and depressingness of the play. I'll try and remember some more and add them on
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