Fools In A Midsummer Night's Dream

He is No Fool at All Renowned sci-fi author Isaac Asimov once said “That of course is the great secret success of the fool – that he is no fool at all”. William Shakespeare has a longstanding tradition of including a fool in his plays. Most people would perceive the fool’s purpose as comic relief because that is the traditional perception of fools in medieval courts. However, there are more to Shakespeare’s fools than meets the eye. His fools can influence tone and ones’ understanding of characters through commentary and actions. Often they are the most influential characters in the play. Thersites from Troilus and Cressida and Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream exemplify this. Both of these characters are influential commentators who offer

They are both examples of how “fools may reflect cogently and speculate skeptically.” (Bell, 2010). For example, Puck exclaims to Oberon “Lord, what fools these mortals be!” (A Midsummer Night’s Dream III.ii.115). His comment is deeply ironic, considering he is a fool calling others fools, but it is also insightful. The line points out the foolishness of the mortals’ love affairs. Moreover, it reveals that he thinks that the mortals should not be so over-dramatic about love. Thersites also possesses some strong opinions about love. For example, he wishes syphilis upon the entire camp for that “is the curse depending on those that war for a placket.” (Troilus and Cressida II.iii.19-20). This is one of many snide comments that Thersites makes about the war and love. To him the war is not worth it because it is for Paris’s relationship with Helen which is purely lust in his opinion. So he agrees with Puck that love is silly, but he expresses it from a much darker viewpoint. However, one key difference between the two characters when they reveal insights is Puck’s main tool for doing so is his actions. When Puck transforms Bottom’s head into an ass, Bottom says “What do you see? You see an ass-head of/ your own, do you?” (A Midsummer Night’s Dream III.i.116-117). Puck’s transformation of Bottom points out his foolishness. Furthermore, it is ironic because his actions were akin to an ass and now he is an ass. In contrast, Thersites relies almost purely on his witty commentary. An example of this occurs during the Paris and Menelaus fight scene because according to Thersites “The cuckold and cuckold-maker are at it./ Now, bull! now, dog!” (Troilus and Cressida V.vii.9-10). Thersites is of course commenting on the scene. Nevertheless, it is important to note that he is belittling their fight scene to some silly bull fight. As a result, the valor and bravery associated