Date of Award

6-1928

Degree Type

Bachelors Essay

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

English

First Advisor

William R. Duffey

Second Advisor

John McCormick

Abstract

There is an old adage, "It takes a wise man to make a fool", which is familiar to most of us, but the full significance of the proverb will be comprehended only after reviewing several plays in which the fools carry prominent parts. Tracing the history of the court fool back to the early and middle ages, it has been found that it was customary tor a monarch, prince or a powerful noble to have in his retinue a fool or jester, whose office it was to entertain his master and courtiers. He enjoyed privileges and liberties denied the higher nobles, and was an important personage. No one was exempt from the jests or the "Fool" even the King himself was aware of the jibes aimed at him, and had it come from one less privileged, it might have cost a life. For illustration or the frankness or the Fool toward his master note the following quotation from King Lear, Act I, Scene 4, Line 160, when Lear asks his Fool how long he was so full of such songs and the Fool flippantly replies, - "I have us'd it, nuncle, e'er since thou mad'st thy daughters thy mothers: tor when thou gav'st them the rod, and put'st down thine own breeches, 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."

However plain the Fool's truth were, or bitter his satire, there was not one who would retaliate him, or incur the enmity or the Fool upon him. If anyone had caused the Fool displeasure, he would become the target of wit and humor and have the opportunity for revenge.

Comments

A Thesis submitted partially to fulfill the requirements for The Degree or Bachelor of Philosophy, School of Speech, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Download

Share

COinS