Analysis of Shakespeare's King Lear: The King's Foolishness and His Fool's Wisdom

#we study how the elements of morality, foolishness …. Suppots the

absurd drama
King Lear Confuses Morality with Foolishness
King Lear is a play that confuses morality with foolishness, as well as mingles (the king who
is supposed to say wise words is fool, while the fool man who is supposed to say trivial
words is wise & Shakespeare's skill in writing influencing diction is magnificent) insanity
with wisdom. William Shakespeare, notorious (famous) for his clever wordplay (diction),
wrote it so that King Lear 's wisest characters make foolish decisions. Shakespeare wants to
portray how sometimes what appears to be a dumb (unwise) idea when it comes to money is
often the most sensible decision of all(‫)لما الموضوع ييجي للفلوس الزم ناخد بالنا من قراراتنا‬. One
example is when Cordelia, King Lear's daughter, chooses to be honest rather than flatter her
father (King Lear) at the beginning of the play. Although her decision may appear to be
foolish on the surface, she proves herself to have made the wisest decision by remaining true
to herself (‫ بالنسبة للفلوس لكنها في الحقيقة حكيمة‬K‫ كانت حكيمة في قرارها‬K‫)توضيح للجملة السابقة؛ كورديليا‬.
Shakespeare shows in many of his plays that character is of utmost importance in a person's
life, and he proves his point in King Lear.

This paragraph tackles

1- Wisdom spoken by the fool & foolishness spoken by those who are supposed to be wise.
2- We can't measure feelings with materialistic things because it is against nature
3- Cordelia, the truly loving daughter refuses to measure love with money.👆

King Lear also finds that the line between foolishness and wisdom may not always be clear.
For instance, Lear's most significant sources of wisdom are through two of the most unlikely
sources: his fool and his own madness. The fool plays a central part in bringing out Lear's
transformation from a man full of pride and ignorance and a fool himself to a man who
becomes wise through his humility. Why Shakespeare creates a fool, not a wise man, to say
wisdom?# because a fool person is not to be blamed or mad at ‫محدش هياخد على كالمه وال هيعاقبه‬
The fool remains by Lear's side despite his growing insanity in the third act. Ironically, as
Lear's insanity increases, so does his wisdom—until he can see wisdom on his own without
the fool. Shakespeare chooses to express the ongoing theme of fools having wisdom and
wise choices appearing foolish through a reversal in the hierarchy of Fool and King, the use
of "moral fool[ishness]," and the ignorant decisions of Lear.
Reversal in Hierarchy (the fool helps the king instead of the king helps the fool ‫األحمق‬
‫)يساعد الملك بدل م الملك يساعد األحمق‬
The reversal in hierarchy plays a central part in the king and the fool's relationship. The fool
assists Lear in gaining wisdom and humility. He is the only person from whom the king
accepts blatant honesty and criticism. Northrop Frye, a critic of Shakespeare, explains that
this privilege is given to the fool “because in our world nothing is funnier than a sudden
outspoken declaration of the truth.” Regardless of the era in which a person lives or his/her
social standing within society, criticism is easier to accept when it is delivered through
comedy. Therefore, through the use of humor, the fool is able to discuss serious subjects
without the king feeling defensive. For instance, when the fool states, "To give away thy land
, / Come place him here by me / Do thou for him stand. / The sweet and bitter fool / will
presently appear," (: if you, king lear give away your land you will be like me having no
money or shelter and then I, who always tells you bitter words will talk gently to you) he
criticizes Lear for foolish deeds such as "giv[ing] away [his] land." Because the fool has
earned the privilege of being outspoken (can talk openly) through his humor, Lear only
mildly challenges the fool’s critique when he retorts, "Does thou call me fool, boy?" If
anyone else would have criticized him in the same manner, Lear would have become
violently angry. If he is upset by the fool’s first response, the fool does a good job of
deflecting any further anger through the use of humor while criticizing Lear further. He does
so when he says, "All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with."
Despite the fool being the king’s servant, Lear ultimately listens to him. This role reversal is
important to the development of the play because the fool acts as Lear’s window to wisdom
for the first half of the play. It is not until Lear has become completely mad that he begins to
make wise choices. Lear needed this reversal in roles in order to develop as a character.

The fool is very aware of this reversal in the hierarchy, as he makes clear many times
throughout the play. He denotes this reversal when he states, “I am better than thou art now; I
am a fool, thou art nothing.” Even though the fool is merely a court jester and of low status,
at least he has a status. By giving away his kingdom, the king has made himself obsolete and
without a role in society. Again, the fool deliberately refers to the reversal in the hierarchy
when he says, "There, take my coxcomb. Why this fellow has banished two on's daughters
and did the third a blessing against his will." By feigning giving Lear his coxcomb, the fool
is telling the king he should be the fool due to his foolish acts.

Word Play (how the diction in this Play makes the reader see and think)
The fool becomes frustrated with Lear’s careless decisions. He expresses his feelings of
frustration by playing with the word “fool.” According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word
“fool” has multiple meanings: “a person who acts unwisely or imprudently,” “a person who
is duped (deceived) or imposed on,” and “a jester or clown.” In the following passage, he
plays on these definitions while also proving his own nobility.

The three meanings of the word fool is applied in the play two of them to the king's character
[unwise, deceived] and one to the fool [clown].

That sir which serves and seeks for gain, (such person who serves you to gain profit
from you will not be by your side in you distress coz their love isn't true)
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, (but the fool ones will not leave)
And let the wise man fly.
The knave (dishonest) turns fool that runs away;
The fool no knave, perdy.

By stating that "the fool" is "no knave" and the "knave turns fool" shows that he is very
aware of the reversal. The words knave and fool often are used to describe the same type of
person, although they are not synonyms. Knave means “a dishonest or unscrupulous man.”
This is significant because the line “the knave turns fool” shows that Lear (the knave) has
become a “person who acts unwisely,” as well as “a person who is duped” by his elder
daughters. The fool, on the other hand, is “a jester” who is not a knave because he is honest.

The Fool's Integrity (‫)كرامة‬

The fool’s integrity is seen in the first four lines of his speech when he says “a servant who
seeks for gain…will pack when it begins to rain.” He proves that he is not a servant who is
only supporting Lear for his own gain because the fool chooses to stay. If he were a servant
that was only there for the material gain, he would have abandoned Lear when things became
difficult. The fool is doing what he believes is right. He recognizes that he is one of the few
sources of wisdom that the king listens to; therefore, he declares that he will remain faithful
to the king when he says, "but I will tarry, the fool will stay." Through his redundancy by
emphasizing "the fool," he realizes that loyalty to Lear has become foolish due to the
uncomfortable situation they are in during the storm.
Fortunately for Lear, the fool remains by Lear's side, acting as a source of wisdom until the
third act, after which the fool no longer appears in the play again. This does not indicate that
wisdom has left Lear (King Lear used to take wrong decisions, but only when he became
mad he started to be wise ‫وده حصل في النهاية‬. the fool disappeared when the king became
mad/wise). In fact, it means quite the opposite. Even though King Lear is becoming more
and more insane, he begins proving his wisdom. For instance, when he reunites with
Cordelia, he states, "I am a very foolish fond old man." The fact that he realizes that he is
foolish shows wisdom in and of itself. He later recognizes that Cordelia had a right to be
angry with him when he states, "I know you do not love me; for your sisters / Have (as I do
remember) done me wrong. / You have some cause, they have not." This shows great
humility on the part of the king. He now sees Goneril and Regan for the cruel individuals
they are. He also realizes his own foolishness when he says, "I am even / The natural fool of
fortune." The lack of the fool's presence shows that Lear does not need wisdom walking at
his side any longer, even though he has become completely mad.

The fool’s willingness to stay with the king is one of many examples where the characters
within King Lear act with “moral foolishness.” Moral foolishness is when the line between
what is moral and what is foolish becomes blurred. For instance, Goneril calls Albany a
“moral fool” because he condemns her for her dishonesty and treachery. Goneril views
Albany as a fool because he places his morals before his goals. She feels that one should do
whatever they can in order to get the desired outcome. An unwillingness to do whatever it
takes is seen as a weakness; therefore, in Goneril’s eyes, trying to live a life with a moral
code will not result in getting what one desires.

‫مهم‬#
Morals Used Foolishly (Cordelia) ‫أخالق مستخدمة بشكل أحمق‬
The idea that morals can be used foolishly is present throughout the play. Another example is
“foolish honesty.” Edmund uses the phrase "foolish honesty" (if you're honest you will be
described and seen as a fool ‫ ) عشان اإلخالص مات يا صاحبي في الزمن‬when he describes the ability
to manipulate his brother Edgar and his father. He says, "A credulous father, and a brother
noble, / Whose nature is so far from doing harms / That he suspects none; on whose foolish
honesty / My practices ride easy." Edmund believes that because his father and his brother
are honest, they are easily manipulated. In his eyes, honesty is seen as a weakness rather than
an asset. Therefore, it is "foolish" to be honest. Edmund feels the only way to get what you
want is through deceit. He also feels that due to their honesty, his plans to usurp his brother's
birthright will be much easier. From a worldly perspective, honesty seems foolish to a person
who is selfishly motivated by money and power, which are merely worldly effects.@@

On the other hand, from a religious or moralist perspective, it is seen differently. Kim
Pathenroth, a religious essayist, said it best when she states:

The characters who behave foolishly according to the world’s standards… turn out to
have real, life-giving, divine wisdom; on the other hand, the characters obsessed with
being wise by worldly standards… participate in a fatal folly, a blinding self-absorption
that makes them not only cruel and rapacious but ultimately miserable and self-
destructive.

Edmund is obsessed with being wise by the world’s standards, and as a result, has become
self-absorbed, cruel, and miserable. Not only does he make this clear when he plots against
his brother and father, but also after he has won the affection of both Goneril and Regan. He
says,

To both these sisters have I sworn my love;

Each jealous of the other, as the stung
Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take
Both? One? Or neither? Neither can be enjoyed,
If both remain alive…
It is clear he does not love either of them. He is only thinking of his own lustful nature and
what the women could provide for him financially; therefore, he misses out on wonderful
parts of life that could be enjoyed.

Foolish Honesty
Cordelia, on the other hand, recognizes that life has more to offer than financial gain. She
appears to act with “foolish honesty” when her father asks her about her love for him. Her
response is not foolish at all. She is appalled by her sisters' false flattery and chooses to be
honest when she says, "I love your majesty / According to my bond, no more or less." Even
though she states that she loves him, she does not flatter him by speaking of a love that is
inappropriate between a father and a daughter as her sister's Goneril and Regan do. Instead,
she explains her lack of flattery by saying,

Why have my sisters husbands if they say

They love you all? Haply when I shall wed,
That Lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry
Half my love with him, half my care and duty.
She points out that if her sisters truly love their father in the way they claim, they would not
have enough love to share with their husbands. Due to the king's foolishness, he believes her
sisters' great claims of love and feels Cordelia's love pales in comparison. Despite the risk of
losing her inheritance, Cordelia values honesty and risks revealing her appropriate level of
love for her father.
Just as Goneril and Regan gain their land and kingdoms through their dishonesty, Cordelia
gains her goal of love and respect through her truthfulness. The King of France looks beyond
her loss of rank as he states,

Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor,

Most choice forsaken and most loved despised,
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon.
Be it lawful I take up what's cast away.
Gods, gods! 'Tis strange that from their cold'st neglect
My love should kindle to inflamed respect.

This beautiful proposal contains paradoxes that seem to be foolish at first. For instance, how
can one become rich by being poor? What he means is that because of her willingness to be
honest, and to risk losing all her wealth, she shows that she is rich in "virtues" that are
irreplaceable, such as integrity and love. Even though “he forfeits a [financial] dowry," he
gains love, which reflects his wisdom. Despite Cordelia’s death, she finds true love. She may
not have survived the play, but then if “all the world’s a stage,” who in life does?
Not all "foolish honesty" is as good as it is in the case of Cordelia. Kent speaks honest words
foolishly while the king is angry and sternly rebuking a man who is of a higher authority.
This “foolish honesty” is seen in the following speech from Kent to Lear:
When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state,
And in thy best consideration check
This hideous rashness. Answer my life my judgment,
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least,
Nor are those empty-headed whose love sounds
Reverb no hollowness.

Kent's honesty could have resulted in death due to his harsh words to a king. Examples of his
harsh words are when he states, "When majesty falls to folly" and refers to his actions as
"hideous rashness." One difference between this "foolish honesty" to that of the King of
France's and Cordelia's is that Kent's brashness did not result in the fulfillment of his desires.
Although he did finally get Lear to listen to him, it was only when he became dishonest by
pretending to be someone else. While his speech is truthful, his timing and manner are
unwise. Because Kent chooses to speak harshly while the king is angry, he does not bring
about a change in Lear's perception. Instead, Kent is banished.

A King's Folly (foolishness)

Despite Kent's ignorance, King Lear also acts ignorantly when he banishes Kent and
Cordelia. He chooses to banish two of the few people who remain loyal to him. His daughter
even was willing to risk her life because of her love for her father. A poem written by
Richard Johnson based on the play King Lear called “King Lear and His Three Daughters”
portrays this well when it talks about her death. The poem says she “dy’d indeed for love.”
Ironically, this is the same love she describes to her father in the beginning when he rejects
and banishes her. It is not until Lear has lost everything, including his sanity, that he realizes
his foolishness in sending them away. This foolish act is obvious to all.

Goneril even recognizes it when she says, "He always loved our sister most and with what
poor judgment he hath now cast her off appears too grossly." Goneril becomes frightened by
Kent’s reaction to Cordelia. She realizes that if he is willing to do this to his favored
daughter, he may be willing to do worse to her. Frye points out that Goneril and Regan’s
recognition of Lear’s foolishness motivates them to disallow any further authority that he
may still have had. Frye agrees with this and expresses the sisters’ feelings when he explains,

…while they’re not surprised that Lear acts like an old fool, even they are startled by how
big a fool he is, and they realize that they have to be on their guard to stop him from ever
having the power to do to them what he’s just done to Cordelia. The hundred knights Lear
insists on could easily start a palace revolution in such a society, so the hundred knights will
have to go.
In this, the two women act wisely, even if their intent is void of scruples. Goneril again
shows great insight when she exclaims,
Idle old man,
That still would manage those authorities
That he hath given away. Now, by my life,
Old fools are babes again...

She not only recognizes that he loves Cordelia most, but that banishing her is very "poor
judgment." She calls Lear an "idle old man," which refers to his decision on giving away his
land as laziness. He not only transfers his "authorities" before it is necessary, but does so in
order to be able to act as a young child again. She makes this clear by comparing "old fools"
to "babes." This reference not only points out how babies are not required to do anything, but
also that they are not yet able to discern and have not yet learned crucial reasoning skills.

As a result of Lear’s lack of discernment and wanting to live a carefree life, his life becomes
filled with grief. If he had chosen to listen to those, like Kent, who spoke with wisdom, he
would have avoided the catastrophes that followed. Shakespeare shows how when a person
chooses to live a life of irresponsibility, there are consequences. The more responsibility that
is given up, the bigger the consequences are. Michelle Lee, another Shakespearean critic,
remarks that by giving up his power, Lear loses the ability to fight against his thankless
daughters. “What he will do is suffer, and Shakespeare will make sure his suffering is among
the greatest chronicled suffering of the earth.”
King Lear shows that wisdom is not always as it appears, and there are severe consequences
for acting foolishly. Wisdom does not denote social class, as in the case of the king and the
fool. Those who should be wise may not always have the right answers, whereas people who
are thought of as foolish may be astute. True wisdom can only be found in those who are
honest and have integrity. Dishonest people confuse what is wise and what is foolish, as in
the example of Cordelia. Many may view her as being unwise because of the way she spoke
with her father when he asked her how much she loves him. Although she loses her share in
the dowry, she receives what she wants, which is love from her husband. In the end, she also
regains the love of her father. Her reward for her honesty is greater than all the land both her
sisters inherit, because Cordelia gains love.