King Lear (Week One)

The character of the Fool seems to have an ability to state the unvarnished truth concerning events that take place in King Lear without any restriction or repercussions from even the King himself. Beginning with line 133 and ending in line 160, the Fool speaks to the King about the inevitable results of his actions when he divided his kingdom and gave it to two of his daughters. It is a synopsis of what has transpired and stated in a manner that is blunt and unencumbered with flattery. It is also somewhat foreboding of the events that follow in the play.

Fool

Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a
bitter fool and a sweet fool?

KING LEAR

No, lad; teach me.

Fool

That lord that counsell'd thee
To give away thy land,
Come place him here by me,
Do thou for him stand:
The sweet and bitter fool
Will presently appear;
The one in motley here,
The other found out there.

KING LEAR

Dost thou call me fool, boy?

Fool

All thy other titles thou hast given away; that
thou wast born with.

KENT

This is not altogether fool, my lord.

Fool

No, faith, lords and great men will not let me; if
I had a monopoly out, they would have part on't:
and ladies too, they will not let me have all fool
to myself; they'll be snatching. Give me an egg,
nuncle, and I'll give thee two crowns.

KING LEAR

What two crowns shall they be?

Fool

Why, after I have cut the egg i' the middle, and eat
up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou
clovest thy crown i' the middle, and gavest away
both parts, thou borest thy ass on thy back o'er
the dirt: thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown,
when thou gavest thy golden one away. If I speak
like myself in this, let him be whipped that first
finds it so.

The Fool is telling the King that he is a fool, more than the Fool himself, for giving away his land and his power. That although he remains a King by title, he is now at the disposal of his two eldest daughters and that decision will come back to haunt him.

He further prepares the King in lines 166-182.

 Fool

I have used it, nuncle, ever since thou madest thy
daughters thy mothers: for when thou gavest them
the rod, and put'st down thine own breeches,Singing
Then they for sudden joy did weep,
And I for sorrow sung,
That such a king should play bo-peep,
And go the fools among.
Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach
thy fool to lie: I would fain learn to lie.

KING LEAR

An you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped.

Fool

I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are:
they'll have me whipped for speaking true, thou'lt
have me whipped for lying; and sometimes I am
whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any
kind o' thing than a fool: and yet I would not be
thee, nuncle; thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides,
and left nothing i' the middle: here comes one o'
the parings.

In these lines the Fool not only foreshadows the upcoming events but he give insight to the audience of the plot. He, as a Fool, demonstrates boldfaced truths that King intuitively knows, but is in denial of.