Fools In _King Lear_ :: essays research papers

Fools and Kings     Shakespeares dynamic use of irony in King Lear aids the microcosmic illustration of not unless 16th century Britain, but of all times and places. The theme that best develops this illustration is the discussion of applys and their coshishness. This discussion allows Shakespeare not only to portray human nature, but also to elicit a sort of Socraticintrospection into the nature of societys own ignorance as well.      One type of fool that Shakespeare involves in King Lear is the immoral fool. Edmund, for instance, may be seen as a fool in the sense that he is morally weak. His foolishness lies in the fact that he has no sense of right or justice, which rewards him with an untimely, ironic death. He discusses this as his father, Gloucester, leaves to ponder the "plotting" of his son Edgar. Edmund soliloquizes,      "This is the excellent foppery of the world, that       w hen we are sick in fortune...      ...we disembowel guilty of our disasters       the sun, the moon, and stars, as if we were villains       on necessity fools by heavenly compulsion." (I. ii. 32) for the sole purpose of illustrating his wickedness. Edmund realizes that his satanic is self-taught. This soliloquy shows the audience Edgars foolishness in his belief that malevolency is the force that drives angiotensin converting enzyme to greatness or prosperity. It also illustrates the bastards mistaken belief that by fooling his father, he might be able to eliminate Edgar, the emulation for Gloucesters title, and possibly rid himself of his father in the same act. This is a prime example of immoral foolishness in King Lear.      Another type of fool in King Lear is the ignorant fool. Whereas characters such as Goneril, Regan, and Edmund are fools because of their tendency to harm others for self -gain, the ignorant foolish are not necessarily driven to evil. However, the evil are almost always driven to foolish actions. Gloucester, arguably Lears foil, puts forth an interesting perspective in the play. His character is presented as one who is blind to the truth, and ironically, one who becomes physically blind in the end. In actuality, it is his blindness to the truth of Edgars love and Edmunds greed and apathy that ultimately brings about Gloucesters demise. When he says, "I have no way and therefore want no eyes, / I stumbled when I saw" (IV.i.173), he seems to be illustrating the realization of his own