Would Falstaff from Shakespeare's "King Henry the Fourth" be considered a fool, clown, or jester?!

Question

I'm doing a research powerpoint for fools, clowns, and jesters in Shakespeare plays that have been read in my class, and was wondering if Falstaff would be considered one of those?

Thanks!

Answer 1

No, Falstaff is none of those. In King Henry IV, whose son is prince Hal, Falstaff is a drinking buddy and ordinary man. In King Henry V, prince Hal has become king, and he has no time for Falstaff anymore. In fact, their former comeraderie has become a bit embarassing to the new King Henry.

It is true that Queen Elizabeth I expressed a wish to see Falstaff in love. Whereupon Shakespeare wrote, "The Merry Wives of Windsor," in which some women romance Falstaff, spin him around, and have fun with him.

The most interesting fool is that of King Lear. He is the sanest person in the play. We can only guess at Yorick, the jester in Hamlet. We only know him as Hamlet describes him, holding his skull.