Chris stated that the hard truth said in jest is appropriate because it allows the party in question to either change or stay as they are without much intrusion while still bringing the problem in question up for debate.
We all have those friends who say scathing things to us, and hide them behind an "Oh, I'm just kidding! Don't take things so hard!"
In the case of the Fool, I feel as though it is a little different than both that scenario and the one Chris brought up. I feel as though Lear keeps him around because he lightens the problems surrounding him, because such is the duty of a Fool. Lear feels less stress about his problems because the Fool jokes about them. It's true that sometimes the truth hits Lear a little hard, but he always pushes it away from him.
I don't think any change works within Lear until he is thrust into the wilderness and subjected to the tempestuous weather. There is where he bonds with the Fool and comes to care for him because that's what happens to people who survive horrible things together. While the Fool is the reason for his change, I don't think it was through the Fool's prophetic words. I think it's because Lear came to care for him, and so soften Lear's heart so that he could see his wrong.
There are truly many experiences that Lear faces throughout the play that contribute to his change of character: his is disrespected, his company is mocked and reduced, he is sent packing, his messenger is put in the stocks, his company is stripped and he is disrespected, he is then left for the animals to eat after the storm. That is one of the beauties of this play, very action driven. However the idea of a prophetic jester is not unique to Lear it is quite the mark of the Renascence.
ReplyDeleteConsider this Renascence work "The Praise of Folly" : "For truthfulness has a certain inherent power of giving pleasure, if it contains nothing that gives offense. But the skill to manage this the gods have granted only to fools. Kings do hate the truth."
The jester is not the force or cause but is none the less the voice of truth and reason.