In William Shakespeare’s King Lear, Cordelia’s punishment shows King Lear’s desire for attention. Her feelings for her father were genuine, yet the king disowned his youngest daughter to show Cordelia the value of flattery. Goneril and Regan’s claims of love satisfy King Lear solely because he thrives on compliments. The fool tells King Lear, “That sir which serves and seeks for gain, and follows but for form, will pack when it begins to rain, and leave thee in the storm. But I will tarry; the fool will stay, and let the wise man fly” (Shakespeare 101). The fool teaches King Lear the importance of selflessness. The fool shows the contrast between people whose wealth makes them arrogant and people whose lack of wealth makes them sensible. Lear values the appearance of love, rather than genuine love. He values authority, rather than honesty.
Is the fool wiser than the wealthy and powerful king? I think he is. Cordelia is clearly King Lear’s most loving daughter, yet he mistreats her because her claim of love was not as dramatic as her sisters’. I think that the king must learn the triviality of authority from someone who was never powerful. Lear was too stubborn to appreciate the opinions of well-respected people, yet the fool repeatedly explains and solves the disasters that occur after King Lear’s wrongdoings.
I agree with you, Shannon. I think the fool is wiser than King Lear. The mere fact that the fool is honest is what makes him wise. Although the fool adds humor into his comments, he unravels the truth in any situation. King Lear makes himself seem unintelligent because he does not comprehend the importance of his friend’s opinions. Does King Lear purposely not take the fool seriously because he does not want to be wrong? Does he choose not to listen? The way King Lear does not perceive how Goneril and Regan really are makes me think so. He wants everyone to think highly of him. His arrogance diminishes his intelligence; therefore leaving the fool to be the intelligent one. The fool only explains what is happening. His secret is to watch and examine what goes on. I think the fool is clever for doing this because he learns through other people’s problems.
ReplyDeleteI, too, believe the fool is wiser than King Lear. Despite not being taken seriously by others, the fool continues to inform the king of his mistakes while offering advice to the king. The fool's loyalty to his master displays his wisdom to strive to protect him by any means necessary. Even though the king pays no attention to the meaning behind the fool's comments, the fool never stops warning the king of what is yet to come of his actions. Responding to Andrea's question, "Does King Lear purposely not take the fool seriously because he does not want to be wrong," I, as well, think his arrogance and pride does get in his way of making wise decisions. By banishing his daughter, Cordelia, for not professing her love for him, the king chooses to value flattery over pure love. This selfish act leaves him with his two other daughters, Regan and Goneril, whom do not love him as much, if at all.
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