The Fool As a Provisional Role in Shakespeare: Three Examples

In his essay Jacobean Shakespeare, Maynard Mack explains the system of mirroring that produces Shakespeare\u27s depth and unity. A mirror is an element that creates a dialogue with other elements, and weaves the thematic fabric of the play. This process takes place between motifs, parallel scenes, and characters who echo each other or speak each other\u27s minds. Very often, the mirroring character or catalyst is the licensed fool. with dramatic permission to say anything, and a reputation and tradition of madness, the fool both reveals the truth and obscures it with his inverted, debased, or metaphoric language. Just as an event can perpetuate the plot\u27s development, an encounter with the fool can advance a character\u27s development and our understanding of the play. The wise fool is provisional in the sense that his behavior is dependent on the demands the play places on him