Shakespeare's Folly: A Methodology of Fooling (thesis)

Abstract

In Feste, Touchstone, and Lear's fool, we see the care Shakespeare bestowed on these characters. While neither particularly romantic nor overly dramatic figures, their role significantly aids the dramatic progression of the plot and the philosophical potential of their plays. By developing a methodology of fooling, Shakespeare gives us the tools to better understand what it might mean to be wise. His methods of exploring fooling, developing a methodology and testing it in specific cases, show that while an ideal of wise folly exists, it can come in many different forms, and adapt itself to different personalities. Fools are not stock characters, no more than Hamlet is. They are human, and care about those around them enough to reprove them, even when it is not easy. As humans, they are just as capable of mistakes and failure. Their humor and hopefulness, however, make their reproof effective in ways that other character types cannot achieve. [From the Conclusion]