17th century, dramatic character, England, English, Europe, play, primary source, quotes
Olivia, perhaps used to being railed against, acknowledges the licence of the jester to say whatever they wish. There is no slander in an allowed fool though he do nothing but rail. Source: Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, 1.5.76-78 Image credit: A photo of actor Louis...
17th century, dramatic character, England, English, Europe, play, primary source, quotes
This heart-rending quote reminds us of the role of the fool in consoling or comforting the king. The implication here is clearly that the fool, although labouring to soothe, is barely able to out-pace Lear’s pain. None but the fool, who labours to out-jest his...
17th century, England, English, Europe, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Scotland, stories, Stuart
All kinds of stories are told about the background from which various court jesters emerged, and some may even be true. Or we know at least that the jester was for real but we can’t be sure about the recruitment trajectory. This is one of the more original...
20th century, England, fictive fool, primary source, quotes
Once I was asked what motivated me to study fools and jesters, and I answered ‘envy’. A little of that, and a lot of admiration for their various skills and resilience. This quote of Kenneth Grahame perhaps conveys the exuberant spirit of the fool. Oh,...
17th century, England, Europe, fooleum, historical figure, painting, portrait, primary source, Stuart
Thomas (or Tom) Killigrew (1612-83) was an actor, theatre manager and acknowledged jester to Charles II (r. 1660-85) – there is a reference in the court accounts to payments made to him for lengths of rather sumptuous cloths such as velvet and damask, explicitly...
17th century, England, English, Europe, fooleum, painting, primary source, Stuart
This early 17th century painting of two jesters and a marotte (fool’s head bauble or stick) taps into the theme of ‘Who’s the missing fool?’ in which an image posed a visual quandary. The painting is entitled ‘We three...
17th century, dramatic character, England, English, Europe, play, primary source, quotes, Tudor
Babulo, whose name has an echo of babbling, is the clown servant of Grissell’s father. Â The marquis isn’t upset by his lack of grovelling genuflection, and invites him to live at court, but Babulo is (again) unimpressed, and roundly expresses his career...
17th century, England, English, Europe, primary source, quotes, Stuart
This parting shot, the conclusion of a fictive quest in search of the ‘veriest fool in England’, has one of the fools name poets as being the greatest of fools, recommending they form a ‘parliament of poets’ to serve the interests of the...
