The Fool and His function in 

"King Lear"  play by Shakespeare

Title

Clever and Courageous Fool

Introduction

King Lear is the only play among the tragedies of Shakespeare a Fool has been introduced. The Fool used to be a professional jester or clown whose function it was to amuse the King and the courtiers by his jokes and witty remarks. The Fool enjoyed a good deal of freedom to speak on any subject and to comment on persons and events without any restraint. His objects in introducing the Fool seems to have been to provide comic relief in a play where the events oppress our minds too much and where the sufferings of the chief protagonist became almost unbearable for us.

The Fool is essential to the narrative drama. One of the most important reason is because he is the only individual who can openly criticize King Lear. Since he is licensed, the Fool is able to speak truth about King Lear and not receive any banishment or death for it.                                                                    

The Fool’s  Attachment to Cordelia

The first mention of the Fool comes when Lear, who is spending his first month after giving away his entire kingdom to his two daughters, with Goneril, ask one of his Knights where his Fool is, and then says that he has not seen the Fool for the last two days. The knight replies that since Cordelia’s departure for France, the Fool has much pined away. “Since my young Lady’s going to France, Sir, the Fool hath much pined away”

This reply by the knight shows that the Fool was greatly attached to Cordelia and that her having gone away to France under peculiar circumstances [having been disowned by her father] has greatly depressed the Fool. In this one remark by the knight, we are made to see the human side of the Fool who otherwise seems almost indifferent to the persons around him.

His offer of his Fool’s cap to Kent and then to Lear

A moment afterwards, the Fool makes his appearance and, on finding Kent in the stocks, offers his Fool’s cap to him. His reason for offering his cap, which is the symbol of his own “folly” is that kent too has proved himself to be a fool because he had taken the side of Lear who is now out of favour with Fortune.

"Why? For taking one’s part that’s out of favour,Nay, and those can’st not smile as the wind sits,thou’lt catch cold shortly: there take my coxcomb.Why, this fellow has banish’d two on’s daughtersAnd did the third a blessing against his will: If thoufollow him thou must need wear my coxcomb,How now Nuncle! Would I had two coxcombs and two daughters!"

The Fool by his puzzling remark means that, by having given his to two of his daughter, he had made them absolutely independent and had in this way lost their love and obedience. Doing the third daughter a blessing against his will implies that Lear, by disowning Cordelia had made her the Queen of France and saved her from marrying the Duke of Burgundy [who was asking for dowry]. The Fool then offers his cap to Lear, saying that Lear need two such caps and the he should beg the second cap from his daughters to whom he had given away everything, without having kept anything far himself.

“If I gave them all my living, I’d keep my coxcombs myself. There’s mine; beg another of thy daughters”

The Sense in His Apparently Foolish Remarks

When Lear warns him not to talk in this irresponsible manner and threatens to whip him, the Fool replies that a man who speaks truth is surely treated like a dog who must be whipped out of the room, while Flatterer, who always speaks falsely, receives kindness and affection.

“Truth’s a dog must to kennel; he must be

whipp’d out when the Lady’s Brach may

stand by th’fire and stink”

Lear feels that the Fool’s satirical attacks on him are painful to him like the plague.He says “A pestilent gall to me!”It is to be noted that he [the Fool] has a good deal of knowledge of human nature. His remarks and comments may appear to be foolish on the surface , but there is a good deal of sense in what he say.

Then, he also, gives a speech to Lear to teach-

"Have more than thou thowest,Speak less than thou knowest,Lend less than thou owest,Ride more than thou goest,Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest;Leave thy drink and thy whore,And keep in-a-door,And thou shalt have more,Than two tens to a score."

In simple words, he says to Lear, Do not make a parade of your wealth. Be reserved and do not tell others all that you know. Lend less than you possess. Ride more than you walk. Do not believe all that you hear. Do not stake all your winnings at a single throw. Give up your drinking, give up your hired mistress,

and keep to your own house. If King will follow this advice given by fool, he will gain more than his expectation.

The Fool’s Repeated Reminders to the Lear of the Latter’s folly

Once he recites a poem in which he calls the king a fool. The Fool also says that even a snail has a place to hide. However, the king is so foolish that he has not reserved any shelter for him.

“Why, to put’s haed in; not to give it away to his daughters and leave his horns without a case.”

He also sarcastically on second daughter of Lear, Regan,“She will taste like this as a crab does to crab.”

The Fool’s Loyalty to Lear

Finally, the Fool remains loyal to Lear. He accompanies the King in sun and shower. He entertains the King, criticizes him for his folly and also respects the King. The King too has a soft corner for the Fool. This bond between the two does credits to both.

Conclusion

Thus, the Fool plays the role of clown. He contributes to the comic relief and sarcastic comments and remind the king of His folly. Ironically, though his name is FOOL but he is smart and courageous. And from his speech we get to know the real FOOL is King Lear.

Mac Flecknoe

-John Dryden

As a Masterpiece of Mock-epic Poetry

Background : Mac Flecknoe (full title: Mac Flecknoe; or, A satyr upon the True-Blew-Protestant Poet, T.S.^[1]) is a verse mock-heroic satire written by John Dryden. It is a direct attack on Thomas Shadwell, another prominent poet of the time. It opens with the lines:

All human things are subject to decay,

And when fate summons, monarchs must obey^[2]

Written about 1678, but not published until 1682 (see 1682 in poetry), "Mac Flecknoe" is the outcome of a series of disagreements between Thomas Shadwell and Dryden. Their quarrel blossomed from the following disagreements: "1) their different estimates of the genius of Ben Jonson, 2) the preference of Dryden for comedy of wit and repartee and of Shadwell, the chief disciple of Jonson, for humors comedy, 3) a sharp disagreement over the true purpose of comedy, 4) contention over the value of rhymed plays, and 5) plagiarism.6) Shadwell fancied himself heir to Ben Jonson and to the variety of comedy which the latter had commonly written. Shadwell’s poetry was certainly not of the same standard as Jonson’s, and it is possible that Dryden wearied of Shadwell’s argument that Dryden undervalued Jonson. Shadwell and Dryden were separated not only by literary grounds but also by political ones as Shadwell was a Whig, while Dryden was an outspoken supporter of the Stuart monarchy.

The poem illustrates Shadwell as the heir to a kingdom of poetic dullness, represented by his association with Richard Flecknoe, an earlier poet already satirized by Andrew Marvell and disliked by Dryden, although the poet does not use belittling techniques to satirize him. Multiple allusions in the satire to 17th-century literary works, and to classic Greek and Roman literature, demonstrate Dryden’s complex approach and his mastery over the mock-heroic style.

q Introduction: Mac Flecknoe is the finest mock-heroic poem written by Dryden in which he has treated Thomas Shadwell with humorous contempt. The poem is both a personal and literary satire. Mac means Son and Mac Flecknoe means ‘son of Flecknoe’. Dryden presents Shadwell as a Dull Poetastar, corpulent man and a plagiarist.

Mock – Epic Beginning of the Poem:

Mac Flecknoe begins like a mock-epic poem. Dryden describes Flecknoe as a worthless poet. The poet compares him with Augustus Caesar, a great Roman Emperor. This is an ironic comparison. Flecknoe is called the “Emperor of the Realms of Nonsense.” The style used by Dryden is grand like that of an Epic. But the person described is worthless. So the language has become flattering and the victim is ridiculed. Thus, the poem begins in a mock-epic vein.

All human things are subject to decay,
And, when Fate summons, monarchs must obey:
This Flecknoe found, who, like Augustus, young
Was call'd to Empire, and had govern'd long:
In Prose and Verse, was own'd, without dispute
Through all the Realms of Non-sense, absolute

Mock – Heroic Hero or Pseudo Hero:

Just like mock-heroic poem, Mac Flecknoe has a mock-heroic hero or a pseudo hero. Shadwell, the hero of the poem, is heroic only in physical bulk. He is called “MacFleckncoe” which means the “son of a dull poet.” He is dull and worthless poet. He is as big as an oak tree. He is described with lofty words but with ridicule. He seems a great musician but is a dull one. Arion could attract big fish like dolphins, but Shadwell could attract only small fish. Finally, the mantle of the dull father fails on Shadwell and this means that Shadwell has got double madness and dullness. He is the prince of dullness and increase dullness in his empire of dull ideas and works of literature. Thus, Shadwell is prescribed as a false hero or pseudo-hero.

Mock – Epicial Description of Shadwell’s Coronation:               

The description of coronation  of Shadwell is mock-epic. The place and the ceremony are depicted in a mock-heroic manner. In fact, as it is said by the idiom which Dryden adapts to his own purpose it is the delightful description of time and place. The words used are big but the description is ironic. It is the ruined building  of a watch tower. Brothels have risen there. Near this building, there is theatre called “Nursery”. Here young actors are trained how to laugh and how to weep. Prostitutes feel safe at this place. Thus, the place is immoral.

         

On the occasion of the ceremony, all people are excited. There are no Persian carpets on the path. The ruined publishers are appointed as the guards and Shadwell’s publisher is the head of the guards. The throne is made of dull books of Shadwell. In the ceremony, Shadwell views that he will maintain the rule of dullness in his kingdom. Shadwell has a mug of wine in his left hand his father’s  dull book in the other. Both symbolize his dullness. The poppey  Flowers are bound around his head and they suggest his habit of taking opium. Soon a dozen of Owls fly and people shout as it is considered as a good omen. Thus, the whole description of the coronation ceremony is very mock-epic. The following lines show how the sense of the solemnity is described with equal pomp:

q “Close to the Watts which fair Augusta bind,

(The fair Augusta much to fears inclin’d)

An ancient fabric, rais’st’ inform the sight,

There stood of yore, and Barbican it hight.”

q “That nodding seem'd to consecrate his head:

Just at that point of time, if fame not lie,

On his left hand twelve reverend owls did fly.”

Mock – Heroic Imagery in the Poem:

Mac Flecknoe is full of mock-heroic imagery. In the very beginning of the poem, the poet compares low or false men with great men and we get the images which are mock-epic. Flecknoe is compared with an emperor but of Nonsense. Shadwell the low musician is compared with the great musician, Arion and the images of dolphins and small fish are striking. Then Flecknoe’s speech parodies the speechof John the Baptist. Then we have the images of the place called Barbican, the owls, the guards and of the mantle of Flecknoe. All the images are ridiculous and mock-heroic like the theme and characters of the poem.

Mock – Epical Ending: Flecknoe’s Ridiculous Advice:

The ending of the poem where there is advice of Flecknoe to his son is quite humorous and mock-epic. Flecknoe advises his son to advance in the direction of new ignorance. He would labour much but produce nothing. He would take long time for a single work. His characters and themes will be dull. He would steal material from other poets and dramatists. His tragic scenes will cause laughter and his comic scenes will send people to sleep. Flecknoe then prophecises that his son will reign over a vast land and may produce greater nonsense.

In keen iambics, but mild anagram:

Leave writing plays, and choose for thy command

Some peaceful province in acrostic land.

There thou may'st wings display and altars raise,

And torture one poor word ten thousand ways.

Or if thou would'st thy diff'rent talents suit,

Set thy own songs, and sing them to thy lute.

He said, but his last words were scarcely heard,

For Bruce and Longvil had a trap prepar'd,

And down they sent the yet declaiming bard.

Sinking he left his drugget robe behind,

Born upwards by a subterranean wind.

The mantle fell to the young prophet's part,

With double portion of his father's art.

Mock – Epic Form and Style:

In form and style, Mac Flecknoe is a kind of mock-epic or mock-heroic poem. The epic structure is used in the poem but on a small scale. It is on a small and mean subject i.e. the mockery of the literary career of a poet named Shadwell. The poem is a parody of an epic. The laughter mainly arises from the disparity between the theme which is trivial and the style which is heroic or grand. Thus, the poem has a mock-epic form and style.

Mac Flecknoe is full of mock splendor, an outrageous blending together of various shades of Christian and pagan coloring. Dryden's mocking epic became a literary landmark for its fusion of inharmonious Christian elements with utmost brilliance. The father-son relationship of Flecknoe and "Sh" is itself a good example. Throughout the poem, Dryden carefully develops the ludicrous parallel between Flecknoe's preceding his son as a dull poet and St. John, the Baptist, preceding Christ. The poem ends with inverted indexing to John the Baptist who is said to have risen to heaven having finished his moral assignments. Flecknoe, the precursor, falls through a trap door. Mac Flecknoe is full of such examples of overt parody.