Thursday, April 22, 2010

A Fool's Play

As King Lear continues, it becomes a theater within a theater. Both Kent and Edgar take the roles as fools in disguise when they are considered banished. They remain close to the king and protect and advise him through his process of insanity. Based on the discussion we had in last class, about the fool being the only one who can speak the truth to the king, it makes sense that Kent and Edgar would disguise themselves in such a manner as to be able to speak to the king without fear of consequence. Kent especially, who was banished for speaking the truth in his rightful position, takes on a role where he can say what he likes. Evidence of Kent and Edgar as fools is in their speech patterns. They both take on the manner of speaking that mimics the fool- in standard rhyming verse, as opposed to the prose in which they spoke before. Gloucester notices this when he is guided by Edgar, who is disguised as "poor Tom." He says, "Methinks y'ar better spoken"(4.5.10). Edgar, in speaking with his father, lapses into is previous speech patterns and nearly gives himself away. Our modern perception of a fool must be thrown aside to understand Shakespeare's fools. The wisdom that a king should have, that Lear lacks, is made up for in the fool's clever riddles and wise advice. Clothes, again, make the man. This is both in the dress of our men in guise, and then later when Lear appears strangely dressed and covered in flowers, which suggests his fall to pure insanity.
Edgar and Gloucester's relationship, as well as with Edmund and Gloucester, seem to prove the nurture argument. It is not because Edmund is the bastard child, but because of the way that his father treats him. Did anyone get a reminder of the Royal Tenenbaums? "These are my sons, Chas and Richie, and this is my adopted daughter Margo." Legitimacy and rank does not determine character in nature, but the treatment of an individual based on rank creates character. The characters of Lear's daughters are also determined by the treatment from their father- Cordelia is doted on, and thus becomes true and sweet, yet aware of her father's unfair treatment of her sisters.

1 comment:

Cyrus Mulready said...

Lear does give us an interesting take on "nature" v. nurture, as even though Edmund proclaims his affinity to "nature" he is clearly a product of his environment and Gloucester's treatment. The Tenenbaum's reference is great, too--in fact, someone should cast Edmund as a heavily-mascara-ed, chain smoking aberrant. It would work!