Fools and Kings in King Lear

"Fools and Kings" Shakespeare's dynamic use of irony in King Lear aids the microcosmic illustration of not only 16th century Britain, but of all times and places. The theme that best develops this illustration is the discussion of fools and their foolishness. This discussion allows Shakespeare not only to portray human nature, but also to illicit a sort of Socratic introspection into the nature of society's own ignorance as well. One type of fool that …

…role of evil in foolishness, tacitly stating that it is not necessarily foolish deeds that lead to evil, but evil that leads to foolish deeds. The crux of the play is one can avoid playing the fool by heeding one's own inner voice. As Edgar says in the last lines of the play, "The weight of this sad time we must obey / Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say" (V.iii.322-323).