King Lear


yyHe says that Lear has reversed the natural order and given Goneril and Regan power over him: ‘thou madest thy daughters thy mothers’.


yyAlthough Lear clearly finds the Fool’s observations a little too astute, they nonetheless give him the courage to confront Goneril about her attitude towards him: ‘You are too much of late i’ the frown.’


Act 1 Scene 5


yyLear has sent Kent to deliver a letter to Regan, telling her that he is on his way because he has been so badly treated by Goneril. The Fool says it is ridiculous to imagine Regan will be any kinder to Lear than Goneril has been: ‘She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab.’


y yThe Fool continues with his riddles, all of which reference the importance of keeping one’s position and authority. He points out that even the lowly snail keeps his house, ‘not to give’t away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case’. He says that Lear has reached old age before wisdom: ‘Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.’


Analysis of the Fool’s character and role in Act 1 Scene 5


yyThe Fool continues to point out Lear’s foolishness. He articulates what Lear knows in his heart – that he has made a terrible mistake and misjudged his daughters.


yyThe audience is kept aware of Lear’s folly by the Fool’s commentary.


y yThe Fool shows his understanding of human nature when he warns that Regan is likely to treat Lear just as poorly as Goneril has done. The audience is keenly aware that Goneril and Regan are similar, and the knowledge that Lear is setting himself up for further conflict and distress adds to the tension at this point in the play.


Act 2 Scene 4


yyThe Fool is still with Lear when they arrive at Gloucester’s castle and find Kent in the stocks. Lear is deeply distressed to see his messenger so humiliated, but the Fool points out that he should not be surprised at this insult. After all, he reasons, the wealthy are treated better than the poor. Lear has nothing to offer his daughters anymore, so they are not in the least concerned about pleasing him.


yyKent wonders why most of Lear’s followers have abandoned him. The Fool scorns such a foolish question, pointing out that people are quick to leave a person whose fortunes are falling. He advises Kent to do the same, saying, ‘Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following’. He, however, plans to stay with Lear because he values loyalty.


yyThe Fool compares Lear to a foolish woman who puts live eels into her pastry because she could not face killing them and ended up having to knock them on the head as they wriggled out of the pie. He also likens him to a man who thought he was being kind to his horses by buttering their hay.


292 292 King Lear


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