The Use Of Comic Relief In King Lear

Shakespeare’s King Lear definitely falls under the genre of tragedy. Throughout the play there are multiple unfortunate, and frankly unnecessary, events. However, through all the unpleasantness, a positive light in the form of comedy shines through. Comic relief is often used in works of fiction that have very strong, negative themes as a sense of comfort in an otherwise displeasing plot, and was also included in the play to keep the audience entertained. In the case of the Stratford Festival’s production of King Lear, the audience was, of course, kept entertained by the tragic events which unfolded throughout the play, but also by the refreshing comedy that emerges. When the play is becoming too intense, one of the characters is sarcastic
Fools in the time of the play were owned by Kings and were a mere source of entertainment. Lear’s Fool tends to be more of a funny friend, a loyal companion to Lear, and also the only one who is allowed to give Lear his opinion on situations honestly without Lear getting mad about it, seemingly taking up the role of Lear’s subconscious. The brutal honesty the fool gives to King Lear is told in the form of several jokes. In the first act, the fool is seemingly joking around for no reason with King Lear. The fools says “she will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab” (1.5.18), meaning that Regan will treat him just like Goneril has treated Lear. The fool also jokes saying: “Thou canst tell why one’s nose stands i’ th’ middle on’s face?” (1.5.19-20) and goes on the answer “Why to keep one’s eyes of either side’s nose, that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into” (1.5.22-23). The fool is telling Lear to open his eyes to the plots of his daughters. The fool is trying to have Lear see the mistake he has made by giving his kingdom away to daughters who do not love him. This realization for Lear is tragic in itself, however having it presented in a lighthearted way to both Lear and the audience makes the realization easier when it finally comes. The fool’s constant tomfoolery provides a hilarious break in the downhill of the
In today’s time, the thought of the star patterns controlling the entire outcome of one’s entire life is a theory that many people would look upon as ridiculous. Therefore, the actors version of Edmund’s speech in act one seems to indicate the modern perspective of how this speech would be looked at as a modern reader. When reading this passage, trying to relate to what Edmund is saying would be difficult because the idea of stars controlling your life is absurd. Therefore, by having this modern joking view of the power of astrology is reflecting a modern time. Comedy in the production not only helps relieve the tragic aspects, but also opens up new ideas for the audience to