During his appearances, the Fool personifies the conscience of Lear. He is not simply an opposing viewpoint, but rather a manifestation of Lear's own self-doubt in his actions. He appears for the first time in Act I, Scene IV, after Cordelia has moved away with the King of France. The Fool tries to show Lear the voice of reason, most notably with his attempt to persuade Lear that it was wrong to banish Cordelia and give all his land away to t

With his honesty and clever wordplay that interweave foreshadowing and practical advice, the Fool entertains not only the King, but the audience as well, bringing comic relief into this tragedy. The Fool uses poetry and song to communicate with Lear. His smug attitude makes his name seem ironic, as he obviously has a great deal more wisdom than the myopic king. The Fool's major appearances relieves the tension felt by the audience at times when Lear seems to be at his worst, . Additionally, he mocks Lear, calling him fool in several different ways. This aspect of his behavior indicates that the Fool is indeed a segment of Lear's subconscious, an inner voice constantly reminding him of his own mistakes, driving him to the point of insanity. At this point, the Fool disappears, as there will be no further tension buildup for him to release.

There are only three people with the ability to stand up to Lear: Cordelia, Kent, and the

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Approximate Word count = 631
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)