Hannah Grimshaw answers “Why does the Fool suddenly disappear from...”

Donna Krebs asked this question about King Lear (Shakespeare Made Easy):

Why does the Fool suddenly disappear from the play? Did I miss something? Does anyone mention where he goes or why?

Hannah Grimshaw The Fool is a symbol of both humour and reality in the play. The irony is he is he is of course employed to be a fool yet he seems to be the only pers…moreThe Fool is a symbol of both humour and reality in the play. The irony is he is he is of course employed to be a fool yet he seems to be the only person fully aware of what is happening around him and is not going mad. As Lears own sanity and awareness of reality diminishes, the Fool too leaves, suggesting that the Fool is perhaps a symbol of the voice of reason in Lear’s mind. Furthermore, the fool is supposed to provide entertainment for the audience as his riddles can be funny. As the plot darkens there is no place in the play anymore for a character which brings light the way in which the fool does.(less)

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